Guzara: A bus crash in northwestern Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 80 people, including 19 children, according to officials. The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 8:30pm local time in Herat province.

Local media outlet Tolo News reported that the bus, which was carrying passengers returning from Iran, collided with a lorry and a motorbike. The crash triggered a massive fire, killing many at the scene.

Traffic accidents are sadly common across Afghanistan, largely due to poor road infrastructure and reckless driving.

The victims were reportedly among the nearly 1.8 million Afghans who have been forcibly returned from Iran in recent months. Since the beginning of the year, an additional 184,459 have been deported from Pakistan, and over 5,000 from Turkiye. Nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners, mainly from Pakistan, have also been repatriated.

The Taliban criticised neighbouring countries in July for the mass expulsions, accusing them of unjust treatment of Afghan nationals. Despite the returns, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation estimates that around six million Afghans remain in exile overseas.