In brief
Early Friday morning, a passenger bus collided head‑on with an oil tanker on Salang Highway in Baghlan province, killing five commuters and injuring about 20 others, many critically. Authorities blame driver negligence and say an investigation is underway. Local health centres have treated the wounded.
In northern Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, a head‑on collision between a passenger bus and an oil tanker on the Salang Highway on Friday morning killed five commuters and injured 20, according to Xinhua and Pajhwok Afghan News.
The crash occurred on the Salang Highway, a major north‑south route connecting Kabul to the northeastern provinces, and involved a 580‑passenger bus traveling from Khulm to Kunduz, according to Pajhwok.
Xinhua reports the passenger bus collided head‑on with an oil tanker carrying hazardous materials. The tanker was reportedly traveling toward Kabul.
The collision happened early Friday, though both outlets did not specify an exact time. The impact left the bus overturned and the tanker partially ruptured.
Five passengers lost their lives, while around 20 others were taken to nearby health centers for treatment, some in critical condition, Xinhua said.
Local officials blamed driver negligence for the mishap, a claim repeated by Xinhua. Pajhwok did not specify a cause but reported the bus was overloaded with 580 passengers.
Health staff at the nearest hospital in North Salang treated the wounded over the following hours, operating emergency protocols; several patients were air‑lifted to larger hospitals in Kabul, the Kabul‑Jalalabad route, reports state.
The Bakhtar News Agency confirmed that an investigation into the head‑on collision was underway. Authorities are reviewing the drivers' logs and vehicle maintenance records.
Humanitarian groups in the area have called for greater road safety measures. A spokesperson for the local Red Crescent office said that emergency responders were overwhelmed by the number of casualties.
Authorities have closed a segment of the Salang Highway for investigation and are urging all road users to exercise caution. The incident underscores ongoing concerns over road safety on Afghanistan’s busy highways.
This accident adds to a growing tally of road mishaps in the country, where traffic incidents remain a leading cause of injury and death. The government has vowed to improve vehicle inspections and driver training.
