HERAT (AFGHANISTAN) – At least 60 people suffered injuries as hundreds of fuel vehicles exploded in a massive blaze which struck through a customs post in Afghanistan near the Iranian border. Power supplies were disrupted, leading to damage of millions of dollars.
Iranian authorities deployed fire engines and ambulances across the border, while a bunch of locals did the best to handle the blaze in the border town of Islam Qala before it was brought under control.
According to initial reports, the blaze had started following the explosion off a gas tanker. Officials said later that it was not clear as to what caused the accident.
Waheed Qatali, governor of the western province of Herat, said they have sought assistance from Iranian authorities and NATO-led personnel in Afghanistan to help contain the fire, which damaged electricity infrastructure. A majority of Herat’s capital city was without power.
Late on Saturday, Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted Jilani Farhad, a spokesman for Herat’s governor, as saying that the situation was brought under control, however, about 500 vehicles had been burnt.
Qatali said that earlier, rescue workers and Afghan security forces have successfully moved hundreds of fuel and gas tankers from the area, while they were getting in touch with the international Resolute Support Mission, with a request to provide aerial firefighting assistance.
A Western official monitoring the situation told at least 60 people has had injuries. Afghan officials gave a lower casualty toll, but said that number might increase.
Across the Iranian border, regional emergency official Mohsen Nejat told state television that Iran had extended aid with 21 ambulances and 20 fire trucks.
Hossein Akhundzadeh, a regional Iranian trade official, told Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA that more than 300 vehicles carrying gas, diesel and gasoline exploded.
“It’s not known whether the drivers were able to escape or not,” he said.
Wahid Tawhidi, a spokesman for power distribution company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, said 100 megawatt (MW) of electricity imported from Iran to Herat province had been disconnected as two pylons had gotten affected by the burns.
He said 60% of Herat, one of Afghanistan’s largest provinces, was without power.
Younus Qazizada, the head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, told, “Preliminary investigations show that more than $50 million of damage has been caused by the fire so far.”
Seventeen injured people were hospitalised and the number of casualties could rise, said Mohammed Raffia Shiraz a spokesman for Herat’s health department.