A traffic collision in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province on Sunday, March 17, 2024, resulted in the deaths of 21 individuals, with an additional 38 suffering injuries.
The accident, which took place in the Gerashk district on the main highway linking the southern province of Kandahar to the western province of Herat, involved a motorbike, a passenger bus, and a fuel tanker. A subsequent fire ignited as a result of the crash, exacerbating the loss of life and injuries.
Officials from the Helmand provincial traffic department reported that the accident started when a motorbike collided with a passenger bus, which then veered into the opposite lane and struck a fuel tanker. The ensuing fire contributed significantly to the casualties. Hzatullah Haqqani, a spokesperson for the Helmand police chief, confirmed this sequence of events and mentioned that a comprehensive investigation into the incident is currently in progress.
Among the 38 injured, 11 sustained severe injuries and were rushed to local hospitals for immediate medical attention. Images shared on social media by the provincial information department depicted the severe destruction caused by the crash, with scorched and mangled wreckage strewn across the highway, and a crushed tanker cabin. Cleanup crews were dispatched to remove the debris and assist with the investigation.
The occurrence of such incidents highlights the persisting problem of traffic safety in Afghanistan, where poor road conditions, insufficient signage, and lack of driver caution frequently lead to accidents.
A similarly catastrophic road accident happened in the Salang Pass in December 2022 when an oil tanker flipped and ignited. This incident resulted in the death of 31 people and left several others with burn injuries.
Figures from Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Traffic Police reveal a worrying situation, with over 1,600 fatalities and more than 4,000 injuries reported within the past ten months due to road traffic accidents. These data underscore the critical need for improved road safety measures and more stringent enforcement of traffic rules in the country to prevent further tragedies.
