2022 Salang Tunnel fire
{{Short description|Disaster in Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2022 Salang Tunnel fire
| image = File:Inside the Salang Tunnel-November 2013.jpg
| caption = Interior shot of the tunnel taken in November 2013
|map={{Location map
|Afghanistan
|places =
|lat= 35.3100
|long= 69.0425
|label=Explosion
|mark=Red pog.svg
|position = top
|caption =
|marksize = 12
|width = 260
|float = right
|relief = yes
}}| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| english_name =
| time = 20:30 AFT (UTC+04:30)
| duration =
| date = 18 December 2022
| venue =
| location = Salang Tunnel, Afghanistan
| coordinates = {{Coord|35.3100|N|69.0425|E|display=inline,title}}
| also_known_as =
| type = Fuel tanker explosion
| theme =
| cause =
| first_reporter =
| filmed_by =
| participants =
| outcome =
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
| reported deaths = 31
| reported injuries = 37
| reported missing =
| reported property damage =
| burial =
}}
On 18 December 2022, a tanker truck exploded in the Salang Tunnel in Afghanistan, killing at least 31 people.
Background
The Salang Tunnel was built by the Soviet Union in 1964 and its {{Convert|2.67|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} length connects the Parwan and Baghlan provinces.{{Cite web |last=Popalzai |first=Ehsan |date=2022-12-18 |title=Fuel tanker tunnel fire kills at least 19 in Afghanistan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/asia/afghanistan-fuel-tanker-tunnel-fire-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=CNN |language=en}} It is known to be one of the most dangerous tunnels in the world.{{Cite web |title=Salang Tunnel is hostile and toxic |url=https://www.dangerousroads.org/asia/afghanistan/9271-salang-tunnel.html |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=www.dangerousroads.org |language=en-gb}} Due to the lack of ventilation and illumination, dust and fumes reduce visibility to only a few meters. A fire in 1982 killed at least 168 Soviet soldiers and Afghans (according to the Soviet estimate), and carbon monoxide buildup killed 16 Soviet servicemen in another incident on February 23, 1980.[http://www.soldat.ru/book/afganistan/chronic.html In Russian] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216140617/http://www.soldat.ru/book/afganistan/chronic.html|date=2007-12-16}}
Disaster
On 18 December 2022, a fuel tanker exploded and caught fire in the Salang Tunnel.{{cite news |last1=Yawar |first1=M. Y. |last2=Greenfield |first2=C. |title=Death toll from Afghanistan tunnel fire rises to 31 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/death-toll-afghanistan-tunnel-fire-rises-31-2022-12-19/ |access-date=19 December 2022 |agency=Reuters |publisher=|editor-last=Chopra |editor-first=T. |date=19 December 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2391694/accident-in-afghanistans-salang-tunnel-kills-at-least-12 |title=Accident in Afghanistan's Salang Tunnel kills at least 12 |date=December 18, 2022 |website=The Express Tribune}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40215142 |title=12 killed as oil tanker catches fire in Afghanistan's Salang pass |date=December 18, 2022 |website=Brecorder}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/accident-afghanistans-salang-tunnel-kills-least-12-2022-12-18/ |title=Accident in Afghanistan's Salang Tunnel kills at least 12 |newspaper=Reuters |date=18 December 2022}} The explosion occurred at around 8:30 pm and the cause of the blast is not yet known.{{Cite web |title=Fuel tanker tunnel blast kills at least 19 in Afghanistan |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/ap-online/2022/12/18/fuel-tanker-tunnel-blast-kills-at-least-19-in-afghanistan |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=spectrumnews1.com |language=en}} The resulting fire made it difficult to evacuate victims with flames spreading from the tanker to other vehicles in the tunnel.{{Cite news |date=2022-12-19 |title=Death Toll from Salang Tunnel Fire Leaps to 31 |language=en-US |work=The Khaama Press News Agency |url=https://www.khaama.com/death-toll-from-salang-tunnel-fire-leaps-to-31-56748/ |access-date=2022-12-19}} According to Said Himatullah Shamim, a spokesman for the Parwan Province, survivors of the blast were still buried under the debris, and the number of casualties was expected to climb.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/18/afghanistan-fuel-tanker-explodes-tunnel-deaths |title=Many killed after fuel tanker explodes in tunnel in Afghanistan |agency=Associated Press |date=December 18, 2022 |website=the Guardian}}
Molvi Hamidullah Misbah, a spokesman for the Taliban ministry of public works, stated earlier on Sunday that the fire had been put out and rescue workers were attempting to clear the tunnel.
Victims
At least 31 people were killed{{cite web|url=https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-181252|title=Death Toll in Salang Tunnel Fire Increases to 31; Casualties May Rise|work=Tolo News|date=19 December 2022}} and over 30 others injured by the explosion, with numbers expected to rise. According to Dr. Abdullah Afghan, a local representative of the Parwan health department, the victims included two children and ten females. Some of the casualties were so badly burned that it was impossible to identify them.
Response
A deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, Qari Yusuf Ahamdi, said "The Islamic Emirate expresses its deepest condolences to the families and the victims".{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Afghan's Salang Tunnel explosion kills 12 |url=https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/8024339/afghans-salang-tunnel-explosion-kills-12/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=South Coast Register |language=en-AU}}
References
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Category:2022 disasters in Afghanistan
Category:21st century in Parwan Province