The crash occurred late Tuesday in Guzara district of Herat province when a passenger bus carrying Afghan returnees from Iran struck a motorcycle and a fuel truck, triggering a huge fire. The death toll rose to 79 after two survivors died from their injuries, and at least 19 children were among those killed. Many bodies were too badly burned to be identified. Cleanup crews worked to remove the burned-out bus and twisted wreckage while witnesses described intense flames, screaming and limited access for rescuers. Only three people survived the blaze. The central government has ordered an investigation. More than 1.5 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan this year.
At least 19 children were among those killed, Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the interim Interior Ministry, told reporters in Kabul on Wednesday. Mohammad Janan Moqadas, chief physician at the military hospital, said many bodies were too badly burned to be identified. A journalist with the AFP news agency reported that cleanup crews were working on Wednesday to remove the burned-out bus and the twisted wreckage of the other vehicles.
There was a lot of fire There was a lot of screaming, but we couldn't even get within 50 metres to rescue anyone, witness Akbar Tawakoli, 34, told AFP. Only three people were saved from the bus. They were also on fire and their clothes were burned. Abdullah, 25, another witness, told AFP, I was very saddened that most of the passengers on the bus were children and women.
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