In brief
A passenger vehicle in western Afghanistan’s Ghor province lost control and overturned on the outskirts of Lal wa Sarjangal district late Saturday, killing five commuters and injuring 16. The Bakhtar News Agency relayed a statement from local government official Abdullah Fayeez that the crash added to a spate of road accidents across the country in the past three days. Xinhua reported the incident as the latest fatal road incident.
Late Saturday night, a passenger vehicle lost control on a winding road outside Lal wa Sarjangal district in Ghor province, overturned, and killed five people while injuring 16 others, Xinhua reported Sunday. The official Bakhtar News Agency confirmed the crash occurred on the outskirts of the district.
The accident took place on a rural stretch of highway that often sees heavy traffic of commuters traveling between provincial centers and nearby marketplaces. According to local lore, the road’s sharp turns and inadequate signage have contributed to several incidents in recent months.
As the vehicle veered off the road, it flipped over, sending passengers into a chaotic wreck. Authorities had to wait for ambulances to arrive before the injured could be transported to the nearest health center.
Abdullah Fayeez, a local government official quoted by Bakhtar, said the vehicle had lost control, flipped over, and “killed five commuters.”
The five fatalities were found inside the overturned vehicle, while 16 injuries ranged from minor lacerations to broken bones. Hospital staff noted that victims were treated on scene and then transferred to a regional hospital, but the article does not disclose the total number of critical cases.
Xinhua highlighted that this crash was the sixth road accident reported across Afghanistan in the last three days. Officials have urged caution on the country’s often treacherous routes as drivers collect more information through news briefings.
The incident echoes a broader pattern of vehicle accidents in the region, with transport officials warning that roads outside major cities remain dangerous, especially for older vehicles that may not meet current safety standards.
According to the Statement from the Department of Transport, local authorities have begun an investigation into the crash’s exact cause, and suggestions to improve road signage and maintenance are under consideration.