Afghan health officials reported that a truck overturned in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, May 30th, resulting in at least 22 deaths and approximately 36 injuries, with the majority being women and children.
The truck was carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan at the time of the accident.
Abdul Malik Niazai, a spokesman for Laghman Province, stated that the accident occurred within the province, on the main highway connecting the Afghan capital Kabul with Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province.
Niazai mentioned that among the casualties were at least 10 minors and 5 women. All injured individuals have been taken to nearby hospitals, with several in critical condition.
Aminullah Sharif, the Director of Public Health in Laghman Province, reported that 22 people died and about 36 were injured in the accident. He explained that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing the truck to veer into a roadside ditch.
According to the Associated Press, these passengers were part of the thousands of Afghans who recently returned from Pakistan. Pakistan began cracking down on undocumented immigrants in 2023, leading to the expulsion or forced departure of many individuals.
Due to reckless driving, poor road conditions, overloading of vehicles, and insufficient transportation infrastructure in Afghanistan, traffic accidents are unfortunately common in the country.
In another incident, the Governor’s Office of Nuristan Province stated on Saturday that on Friday night, a car veered off the road into a river in the province, resulting in injuries to the driver and four missing passengers. Rescue teams are currently searching for these four individuals.