3 years ago
At least 100 oil and gas tankers have caught fire at Afghanistan's largest trade gateway with Iran. According to officials, fire destroyed property worth millions of dollars.
Blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon in Islam Kwala, about 120 kilometers from the western Afghan city of Herat on the border with Iran. Even though fire was brought under control, investigation into the incident has already started, said officials.
A spokesman for the governor of Herat province, Jailani Farhad, said 100 or 200 tankers had been destroyed in the blaze, which caused more damage than expected. Spokesman for the governor of Herat province, Jailani Farhad said that real details can be obtained only from the investigation of incident.
Spokesman for the governor of Herat province, Jailani Farhad said about 20 people were injured in the blaze and were taken to a local hospital.
Video footage posted on social media shows a large plume of smoke in the sky. Afghan Ministry of Finance said the fire caused significant economic damage to fuel, tankers and customs offices.
Yunus Kwaji Jada, head of Herat Chamber of Commerce, said in a preliminary statement that damage was in the tens of millions of dollars. Power supply to most parts of Herat province was cut off on Sunday.
Islam Kwala is an important trade gateway to Afghanistan. Most of the trade with Iran takes place through this port.
The United States has allowed Afghanistan to import oil and gas from Iran despite US sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibazadeh said border with Iran had to be reopened for some time after the fire broke out.
He added that firefighters from both the countries were immediately mobilized. He said Taliban attacked a nearby security checkpoint shortly after the fire broke out.
