Afghanistan: Tanker truck explodes in tunnel

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Medical workers transport the victims of a tank truck explosion in the Salang Tunnel

Photo: Uncredited / picture alliance/dpa/AP

A tanker truck exploded in a mountain tunnel in Afghanistan, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 37 others.

The truck loaded with oil overturned in the Salang Mountain Pass tunnel on Saturday evening (local time) and burst into flames, Public Works Ministry spokesman Hamidullah Misbah said on Sunday.

Several other vehicles then caught fire.

Initially, the information was contradictory.

There are different reports about the number of victims.

The Guardian reports 19 dead and 32 injured.

The causes of the accident were initially unclear.

The dpa news agency reported unspecified “technical problems”.

The fire caused by the explosion spread to other vehicles.

The ministry spokesman expressed fears that the number of victims would continue to rise, as people could still be buried under the rubble.

One of the highest expressways in the world

A senior health official in Parwan province said children were among the dead, according to news agencies.

An eyewitness, in turn, told local radio station Tolonews: 'The bodies we saw were completely burned.

It was not clear whether they were children, men or women.«

According to authorities, the fire was under control several hours after the incident.

Rescue teams arrived in helicopters at the accident site, which was around 3,650 meters above sea level.

The road at the Salang Pass around 90 kilometers north of the capital Kabul is one of the highest expressways in the world.

The tunnel, which is more than 2.5 kilometers long and connects the provinces of Baghland and Parwan, initially remained closed.

There was no official information on Sunday about the financial damage.

kry/AFP