Fuel tankers catch hearth, at the very least 10 damage in Afghan capital

A hearth roared by means of a number of gasoline tankers on the northern fringe of the Afghan capital late Saturday, injuring at the very least 10 individuals and plunging a lot of town into darkness, officers mentioned.
It wasn’t instantly identified if the fireplace was unintended or intentional approaching the official begin of the ultimate withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, ending America’s longest struggle. The Interior Ministry mentioned Sunday the incident is below investigation.
All 2,500-3,500 American troopers and about 7,000 NATO allied forces shall be out of Afghanistan on the newest by September 11, the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist assaults within the United States that first introduced them into the nation.
Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian mentioned the fireplace started when a spark set one gasoline tanker ablaze. Several tankers close by have been shortly engulfed, sending big flames and plumes of smoke into the night time sky.
Several properties within the space have been additionally broken and a few destroyed. Electricity strains have been downed, leaving a lot of the capital, that always has solely sporadic energy, fully with out electrical energy.
The hearth got here quickly after the bulk Muslim nation, marking the holy month of Ramadan when the devoted quick from dawn to sundown, had ended their day-long quick.
One of the drivers, Haji Mir, mentioned the explosion was deafening as vehicles have been lined up coming into town.
“The first explosion sounded like a mine explosion,” he mentioned. “There was flames shooting from one truck and then a second truck exploded, and a third.” He estimated that as many as 100 tucks might have burned.
Dozens of tankers have been transferring slowly into the capital on the time of the blaze. They had been ready till after 9 pm when gasoline tankers and different giant vehicles are allowed to enter town.
Obaidullah, a resident within the space, mentioned the fireballs have been huge. His household and neighbors bumped into their yards.
“Fire lit up the sky,” he mentioned.
Drivers have been screaming for assist as flames leapt from automobile to automobile and even set ablaze a gasoline station. “Drivers were yelling that their co-drivers were stuck and were burning.”
Afghanistan’s firefighters arrived however their capability is restricted and it took hours to convey the fireplace below management. On Sunday morning, flames nonetheless leapt from the smouldering ruins.