Large Fuel Truck Fire in Kabul Leaves Casualties

Date: 02 May 2021 - 21:49

News ID: ۸۹۸۴۵

KABUL (Dispatches) – Gasoline tanker trucks burst into flames in the capital Kabul overnight, killing at least seven people and starting large fires that caused power cuts to some parts of the Afghan capital, officials said on Sunday.
The tankers were parked in northern Kabul and burst into flames late on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Interior. Fourteen people were injured.
The cause of ignition was not immediately known but the fires come as the city remains on "high alert” with officials bracing for attacks from the Taliban over the foreign troops’ continued presence in the country.
Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said on Sunday that the casualties took place after a huge fire broke out in Qala-e-Murad Bek area in Shakardara district north of Kabul.
Eyewitnesses said the fire, which caused power cuts to some parts of the Afghan capital, damaged more than 50 fuel tankers, trucks and other vehicles as well as a large number of houses and shops.
The Interior Ministry spokesman said they were still investigating the cause of the blaze.
Two security sources had earlier told Reuters they believed it was caused by a Taliban rocket attack in the area, however, the militant group dismissed any involvement in the deadly incident.