Salang pass which connects the capital Kabul to northern Afghanistan has been reopened after a four-day closure due to a deadly fire eruption inside the tunnel, according to the Taliban Ministry of Public Works.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 21, the Ministry said that the highway is only open for passenger buses, not for truck vehicles.
Salang highway will remain closed for truck vehicles until further notice and vehicles carrying food stuff will be prioritized in case it will be opened for truck vehicles, the statement added.
A horrific fire erupted inside the tunnel on Saturday night, December 17. Sources confirmed to Kabul Now that the incident claimed at least 63 lives and wounded more than 30 others.
Moreover, sources said that 30 vehicles, including 17 passenger buses, have been completely burnt in the tunnel fire eruption. These sources confirmed that it has left more than 100 casualties.
Providing the latest updates about the incident, Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Public Health confirmed 31 dead and 37 wounded on Monday, December 19.
According to the Taliban authorities, a fuel tanker has cached fire inside the tunnel, and then it rapidly engulfed passenger buses.
