Iranian media have reported a significant fire at the Dogharoun customs, the primary border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan. The blaze, which broke out on August 5 afternoon, led to the closure of the customs facility, Report informs referring to Amu TV.
According to IRNA, citing Taliban border officials, the fire engulfed 500 fuel tankers. Precise figures on casualties and financial losses have not yet been confirmed.
Jilani Farhad, a former spokesperson for the governor of Herat, told IRNA that the fire has been contained. Preliminary estimates indicate that the incident caused approximately $50 million in damages, though a thorough assessment is still pending.
Local Iranian authorities attributed the fire to the carelessness of fuel tanker drivers. Iranian media reported that three Iranian fuel tankers and one Afghan fuel tanker caught fire in the Dogharoun Special Economic Zone due to “safety protocol violations.”
Mohammad Reza Rezaei, the deputy political, security, and social affairs governor of Taybad, stated, “The extensive fire caused by fuel tankers in the Dogharoun Special Economic Zone has halted the movement of transport fleets and led to the closure of the customs, border market, and all activities at this border.”
Iranian media also noted that there are no verified reports on casualties yet.
The Dogharoun border, with nearly a century of history, is one of the most crucial trade and exchange points between Iran and Afghanistan. The Dogharoun Special Economic Zone was established in 2010 to enhance its significance.