A tragic minibus accident in northeastern Afghanistan resulted in 15 fatalities on Saturday, according to provincial police authorities. The vehicle veered off a damaged roadway in Badakhshan province and plummeted into a valley while en route to the regional capital Faizabad.
Police spokesperson details indicate the victims comprised six children, five women, and four men. Three individuals initially survived the crash with serious injuries but subsequently succumbed at a medical facility, contributing to the updated death toll.
Authorities have identified severe road deterioration as the primary cause of the catastrophe. This incident highlights the persistent transportation safety crisis in Afghanistan, where inadequate infrastructure, dangerous driving practices, and minimal regulatory enforcement regularly lead to fatal outcomes.
The Badakhshan tragedy echoes similar recent disasters, including an August collision in Herat province that killed 78 migrants returning from Iran, and an August rollover near Kabul that claimed 25 lives due to driver negligence. These recurring incidents underscore systemic transportation safety failures that continue to plague the nation following decades of conflict.