JALALABAD: At least 18 people, including 10 children, were killed and 29 others injured following a truck overturned in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, according to local authorities.
The accident took place on the highway connecting Jalalabad with the Afghan capital, Kabul. According to Abdul Malik Niazay, spokesperson for the governor of Laghman province, the victims were travelling in the vehicle when it lost control and overturned.
Niazay said that “Eighteen people have died, including 10 children, five women and three men. In addition, 29 people have been injured.”
The injured were taken to nearby medical facilities, while local authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Traffic accidents remain a major cause of fatalities in Afghanistan, where poor road infrastructure, reckless driving and weak enforcement of traffic regulations contribute to frequent deadly incidents. Decades of conflict have also left many roads in poor condition, increasing the risk of accidents.
The latest tragedy comes amid continuing concerns over road safety across the country. Large numbers of people often travel in overcrowded vehicles, particularly on long-distance routes connecting major cities.
Last August, a separate traffic accident in western Afghanistan claimed 78 lives, including 19 children, as a bus collided with two other vehicles.
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