KABUL (SW) – A number of fuel tankers caught fire in Shakar Dara district of Kabul last evening killing at least seven people and injuring 14 others, said officials on Sunday.
The interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said the incident took place in the Karizmir and Qala-e-Muradbik areas of the Shakardara district at the northern gate of Kabul. He added the fire broke out around 9pm last night. Tariq Arian said the fire started with a fuel tanker and then spread, as a result of which dozens of fuel tanks were completely burnt.
According to Arian, the fire broke out in the area where the oil tankers were standing. A nearby fuel station was also nearby, but according to Kabul police, it was not badly damaged.
The blaze at Shakar Dara also damaged power supply lines to the capital city. According to the national power utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat, the 220 kV line of imported electricity was cut off and most areas of Kabul were without electricity last night.
Meanwhile, a number of drivers injured in the blaze are said to have protested and closed the Kabul – Baghlan highway to traffic.
ENDS
