KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 79 people, including women and children, were killed in western Herat province when a bus carrying Afghan migrants deported from Iran collided with two other vehicles, Taliban authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred Tuesday evening on the Herat-Islam Qala Highway in Guzara district, where the bus first collided with a truck and then a motorcycle, causing a massive fire that killed many on the spot, according to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Interior.
The victims included members of 16 families, with over 20 women and 19 children, from Kabul, Kapisa, Ghazni, Daykundi, Parwan, and Baghlan provinces, the Taliban said. In addition to the bus passengers, two motorcycle riders and two truck passengers also died, and three people were injured in the crash.
The Taliban said the accident was caused by high speed and driver negligence.
This is the second deadly bus accident involving deported migrants in Afghanistan in recent months. Last month, at least 11 people died in a similar accident in Washir district, Helmand province.
Traffic accidents in Afghanistan have surged in recent years. Poor road conditions, driver negligence, and disregard for traffic rules are major factors.
Data collected by Etilaatroz shows that traffic accidents have increased fivefold since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. According to Taliban figures, 1,187 accidents were recorded during the solar year 1400 (March 2021–March 2022). This rose to 2,662 in 1401 and reached 5,520 in 1402 (March 2023–March 2024), reflecting a 78.5% increase over two years.
