28 Apr Firefighters Tackle Massive Fire
An explosion on a fuel tanker on its way from Iran into Afghanistan’s Herat Province through the Islam Qala border crossing sparked a massive fire which was too fierce for the firefighters called to the scene from both countries.
The flames spread so fast that it was reported that the fire burned more than 500 other trucks carrying natural gas and fuel but only injured seven people.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blast but with his own firefighting team unable to contain the flames Herat’s governor requested support from Iran in the form of firefighting aircraft while ambulances struggled to reach the wounded but they did take seven casualties to hospital.
The fire continued to burn after nightfall and forced Afghanistan to shut down its electrical supply from Iran, leaving the city of Hert 75 miles away in darkness.