Exploding Fuel Tanker Ignites Enormous Fire on Afghanistan-Iran Border

A fuel tanker exploded Saturday afternoon at a crowded border post in western Afghanistan, setting off an enormous fire that spread to more than 100 other tankers as intense flames slowed the response of firefighters and rescue vehicles, Afghan officials reported.

The officials said they had not determined what caused the first tanker to explode at the Islam-Qala customs post on the border with Iran shortly after noon. They expressed alarm Saturday evening that the fire was rapidly spreading at the congested customs complex and could engulf hundreds more tankers lined up at the border.

Officials in Herat said they could not confirm Afghan and Iranian media reports that up to 500 tankers had already burned and that the blaze had spread to the Iranian customs post on the other side of the border.

At least 17 people were injured, with the number of casualties expected to rise, said Mohammad Rafiq Sherzay, the provincial public health spokesman.