This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the site of a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
KABUL, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday.
Firefighting teams swiftly brought the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading further, the authority said, adding that the cause of the fire has yet to be determined and an investigation is underway.
Personnel remain on site, closely monitoring the situation and assessing the extent of the damage.
Located around 120 km from Herat city, Islam Qala is western Afghanistan's principal land border crossing with Iran. It functions as a critical commercial and transit corridor, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of passengers and substantial volumes of goods between the two countries. ■
This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the site of a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the site of a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the site of a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the wreckage of a tanker after a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2026 shows the wreckage of tankers after a fire at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, Afghanistan. At least 18 fuel tankers were fully engulfed in flames and three others partially damaged when a major fire erupted at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority announced on Thursday. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)
