Bus crash in Afghanistan kills dozens of migrants returning from Iran

At least 79 people, including 19 children, were killed in northwestern Afghanistan when a bus carrying Afghan migrants deported from Iran collided with a truck and a motorcyle, according to local media reports.

The collision — which happened on Tuesday evening in Herat province — caused a massive fire that killed many people on the spot, Tolo News reported. Two people were also injured in the crash, according to interior ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani.

Provincial government official Ahmadullah Muttaqi shared a video on X showing the burnt-out structure of a bus engulfed in flames. The footage could not be independently verified by Euronews.

While traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, mainly due to poor road conditions and a lack of driving regulations, this is believed to be one of the worst crashes in years.

The Taliban criticised neighbouring countries in July for the mass expulsion of Afghans, as Iran and Pakistan expel foreigners who they say are living there illegally.

Tehran and Islamabad deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland over the decades to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule.

Nearly 1.8 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran in the past few months.

A further 184,459 were sent back from Pakistan and more than 5,000 were deported from Turkey since the beginning of the year.

Additionally, nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners have been repatriated, mostly from Pakistan.

Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said some 6 million Afghan refugees remain overseas.