2022 Salang Tunnel fire
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (December 2022) |
  Explosion | |
| Date | 18 December 2022 |
|---|---|
| Time | 20:30 AFT (UTC+04:30) |
| Location | Salang Tunnel, Afghanistan |
| Coordinates | 35°18′43″N 69°02′31″E / 35.312°N 69.042°E |
| Type | Fuel tanker explosion |
| Deaths | 20 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 37 |
On 18 December 2022, 8:30 PM, a fuel tanker exploded in the Salang Tunnel, Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people, and leaving 37 others injured, including women and children.[1][2][3]
Background
The Salang Tunnel is known to be one of the most dangerous tunnels in the world.[4] Due to the lack of ventilation and illumination, dust and fumes reduce visibility to only a few meters.
Previously, a fire in 1982 killed 176 people, as well as another in 1980, which killed 16 Soviet servicemen.
Impact
According to Said Himatullah Shamim, a spokesman for the Parwan province, survivors of the blast on Saturday night are still buried under the debris, and the number of casualties, including women and children, is expected to climb. What caused the incident was not immediately apparent.[5]
According to Dr. Abdullah Afghan, a local representative of the Parwan health department. The dead included two children and ten females. Some of the casualties were so badly burned that it was impossible to identify them.[5]
Rescue
Molvi Hamidullah Misbah, a spokesman for the ministry of public works, stated earlier on Sunday that the fire had already been put out and that rescue workers were still attempting to clean the tunnel.[5]
References
- ^ "Accident in Afghanistan's Salang Tunnel kills at least 12". The Express Tribune. December 18, 2022.
- ^ "12 killed as oil tanker catches fire in Afghanistan's Salang pass". Brecorder. December 18, 2022.
- ^ "Accident in Afghanistan's Salang Tunnel kills at least 12". Reuters. 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Salang Tunnel is hostile and toxic". www.dangerousroads.org. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b c Press, Associated (December 18, 2022). "Many killed after fuel tanker explodes in tunnel in Afghanistan". the Guardian.
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