Large fire engulfs customs submit on Iran-Afghanistan border, dozens harm

An enormous blaze engulfed a customs submit in Afghanistan on Saturday after gasoline vehicles stuck alight, injuring no less than 60 folks and prompting government around the close by Iranian border to ship fire engines and ambulances, officers mentioned.

Ratings of native citizens battled to keep watch over the blaze within the border the city of Islam Qala, which preliminary stories mentioned had began after a gasoline tanker exploded. Officers mentioned later that the purpose used to be now not straight away transparent.

Waheed Qatali, governor of the western province of Herat, mentioned Iranian government and NATO-led staff in Afghanistan have been requested for pressing help to comprise the fire, which broken electrical energy infrastructure, leaving a lot of Herat’s capital town with out energy.

Thick plumes of black smoke and flames rose top into the air across the scene, tv footage confirmed.

Rescue staff and Afghan safety forces moved loads of gasoline and gasoline tankers from the realm, whilst the world Resolute Toughen Undertaking used to be contacted with a request to supply aerial firefighting help, Qatali mentioned.

A Western reputable tracking the location advised Reuters no less than 60 folks have been injured up to now. Afghan officers gave a decrease casualty toll, however mentioned that quantity may upward thrust.

Around the Iranian border, regional emergency reputable Mohsen Nejat advised state tv Iran had despatched 21 ambulances and 20 fire vehicles to the scene.

Greater than 300 cars sporting gasoline, diesel and fuel exploded, Hossein Akhundzadeh, a regional Iranian business reputable, advised Iran’s semi-official information company ISNA.

“It’s now not recognized whether or not the drivers have been ready to flee or now not. The blaze has now not been contained but and precise data isn’t to be had,” he mentioned.

Wahid Tawhidi, a spokesman for energy distribution corporate Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, mentioned 100 megawatt (MW) of electrical energy imported from Iran to Herat province have been disconnected as a result of two pylons had burned down.

He mentioned 60% of Herat, one in all Afghanistan’s biggest provinces, used to be with out energy.

Younus Qazizada, the pinnacle of the Herat Chamber of Trade and Industries, advised Reuters the blaze had led to hundreds of thousands of bucks in harm.

“Initial investigations display that greater than $50 million of wear has been led to by way of the fire up to now,” he mentioned.

Seventeen injured folks have been taken to clinic and the selection of casualties may upward thrust, mentioned Mohammed Raffia Shiraz a spokesman for Herat’s well being division.

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