In western Afghanistan’s Herat province, a tragic road accident claimed the lives of 71 passengers, including 19 children. The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on Tuesday night when a bus carrying migrants returning from Iran collided with a truck and a motorcycle. Following the collision, the bus caught fire, and most of the passengers were burnt alive. Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus was speeding, and the driver’s negligence was the primary cause of the accident. According to local police, out of 74 passengers on board, only three survived, while the rest died either on the spot or in the hospital. Horrifying videos of the aftermath have gone viral on social media.

Such traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan. Poor road conditions, overcrowding, speeding, and driver negligence are major causes of these deadly incidents. In recent months, nearly 1.8 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran. Since the beginning of 2025, 184,459 people have been deported from Pakistan, and more than 5,000 migrants have also been forced back from Turkey. Under such circumstances, returnees are facing severe challenges regarding shelter, food, and employment upon their arrival in Afghanistan.