KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 12 people have been killed and 37 others sustained burn injuries as a result of an overnight fire breakout in the Salang tunnel, an official said on Sunday.
Maulvi Abdullah Misbah, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a fuel tanker overturned inside the tunnel and caught fire.
He said: “Several vehicles close to the tanker also caught fire, so far only the tanker has been pulled out and efforts are underway to pull out the rest of the cars.”
He said 12 people had died and 37 more wounded in the blaze.
According to him, the Salang highway, connecting Kabul with northern Afghanistan, has been closed for traffic and drivers must avoid traveling on the route until the MoPW makes an announcement.
The Ministry of Defense tweeted that mobile health teams and food items had been dispatched to the area via helicopter.
The Ministry of Public Health also tweeted that emergency medical and rescue services were provided to the injured and passengers trapped in the tunnel late at night in the presence of Public Health Minister Dr. Qalandar Ebadi.
sa/ma
Views: 122