February 14th – Comprehensive report: On the afternoon of the 13th local time, a fire broke out at the largest trade port on the border between Afghanistan and Iran.
Hundreds of tankers exploded, injuring at least 60 people and losing millions of dollars.
The fire broke out after noon on the 13th, engulfing many tankers parked nearby after crossing the border.
“There were about 200 to 300 tankers on site at the scene, and we rescued some, but most of them were engulfed by the fire, which was so heavy that no one could approach within a kilometer,” said Chada, head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce.
“Preliminary estimates of the losses amount to millions of dollars, and it must wait until the fire is put out before it can be correctly assessed,” he said.
Later on the 13th local time, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency quoted Farhad, spokesman for Herat Governor, as saying that the fire was under control, but about 500 cars were burned down.
Afghan energy company DABS said that the fire caused power outages in 60% of Herat Province.
Before the fire was under control, the immediate Iranian authorities also sent fire trucks and ambulances across the border to put out the fire.
Previously, it was reported that the fire was caused by the explosion of a gas tanker.
However, officials later said that the cause of the fire had not been clarified.
