At least 76 Afghan deportees from Iran, including 17 children, have died in a traffic accident in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat, local officials reported on Wednesday.
Three others sustained severe injuries in the crash, which occurred when a passenger bus collided with a motorbike and a Mazda truck before catching fire, said Mohammad Yousuf Saidi, spokesperson for the provincial governor.
The bus was transporting deportees from the Islam Qala border crossing, a major entry point for Afghans returning from Iran.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, head of Herat’s information and culture department, confirmed that all the victims were deportees from Iran.
Iranian authorities recently announced that they have deported 1.2 million Afghan refugees in the past six months, with another 800,000 expected to leave the country by March next year.
Every year, conflict, poverty, and high unemployment drive large numbers of Afghans to cross the 300-kilometre border into Iran, often illegally. Many take up low-wage jobs in construction and other sectors, where they are sought after as cheap and dependable labour.
Following the tragedy, Afghan authorities urged drivers to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life. Local officials described the incident as one of the deadliest traffic accidents in recent years.
Traffic accidents are widespread in Afghanistan, where thousands of people die annually due to poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving.
dpa
