Bus carrying Afghan returnees from Iran crashes in Herat, 76 dead

A bus carrying Afghan migrants recently deported from Iran collided with a fuel truck and a motorcycle on a western Afghan highway, catching fire and killing at least 76 people, including 17 children, with three others seriously injured. The accident, one of the deadliest in recent Afghan history, occurred late Tuesday in Herat province near Guzara district as the vehicle, en route to Kabul, erupted in flames and responders worked to reach victims.

Authorities described the scene as chaotic, with emergency crews racing to the blaze as the bus burned. Provincial officials released footage showing the wreckage engulfed in fire and said firefighters arrived quickly, but many victims could not be saved. The latest official tally, issued after days of rescue efforts, confirms 76 fatalities and three serious injuries, with most victims aboard the bus and a smaller number in the other vehicles.

Investigators pointed to excessive speed and negligence as initial factors in the crash, while a broader inquiry remains underway. Officials noted that the bus collided with a motorcycle and a truck carrying fuel, and that the ensuing fire hampered rescue efforts. The identities of the dead were...