KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least eight people have been killed and 19 others injured following two separate traffic accidents in the provinces of Badakhshan and Samangan.
Local sources say that today (Tuesday, April 15), a “Tunus”-type vehicle overturned in the center of Badakhshan, leaving seven people dead and 12 others injured.
According to the sources, the incident occurred in the “Sayedbai” area of Faizabad city, and the condition of several of the injured is reported to be critical.
Meanwhile, the Taliban police command in Samangan said that one person was killed and seven others injured in a traffic accident in Khulm district of the province.
The Taliban police command stated that the incident took place early this morning on the Balkh–Kunduz highway, as a result of a collision between a “Hino” truck and a gas tanker.
The command added that the driver of the gas tanker was killed, while the driver and six passengers of the “Hino” truck were injured.
The Taliban police command also reported that 60 head of livestock were killed in the incident.
The cause of these accidents remains unknown.
Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan and claim hundreds of lives each year, leaving many others injured.
In recent years, concerns over road safety and urban traffic management have increased across Afghanistan, with authorities attempting to impose stricter regulations. However, limited infrastructure, lack of enforcement mechanisms, and economic dependence on informal transport systems continue to complicate efforts to reduce accidents and improve traffic arrangement in major cities.
Traffic accidents claim hundreds of lives each year in Afghanistan and leave many more injured. Officials frequently cite reckless driving, poor road conditions and a lack of traffic signs as the main causes of such incidents.
Road crashes have surged since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Data reviewed by Etilaatroz and KabulNow indicate a fivefold rise in accidents, with 1,187 recorded between March 2021 and March 2022, rising to 2,662 the following year, and at least 5,520 between March 2023 and March 2024, a nearly 80% increase over two years. Recent reports indicate the trend has persisted, with hundreds killed and injured in recent months across multiple provinces.
