A terrible traffic accident in western Afghanistan has killed dozens, possibly as many as 79, of Afghan deportees returning from Iran, many of them children. Late Tuesday night, the tragedy happened on a highway close to the province of Herat.

The truck that was allegedly transporting fuel collided with the bus that was transporting migrants who had been deported from Iran after first colliding with a motorcycle.

Due to the impact, the bus was completely engulfed in a massive fire that left very little room for escape.

According to preliminary official figures, at least 76 people, including 17 children died, and three others were gravely hurt.

Provincial authorities stated that the bus driver's carelessness and excessive speed were likely contributing factors. Many people on board were instantly burned to death by the collision's resulting fire, with some victims being irreparably burned.

The returning deportees were traveling to Kabul when they boarded the bus in Islam Qala, a significant Iranian border crossing.

The crash highlights a worsening humanitarian crisis brought on by the large-scale repatriations of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran, which are reactions to the growing number of deportations this year.

This terrible collision, which was caused by bad infrastructure, careless driving, and a lack of enforcement of safety laws, is among the deadliest traffic accidents in Afghanistan in the recent years.