Authorities in Afghanistan’s southwestern Nimroz province are searching for 14 missing migrants after five others died from extreme heat while attempting to cross into neighbouring Iran, police said on Monday.
The group had departed more than a week ago through the desert region, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C.
How did the incident occur?
According to Nimroz police, the migrants’ vehicle became stranded after breaking down during a dust storm.
Police spokesperson Gul Mohammad Qudrat said the driver left the vehicle in search of assistance but became lost in the desert.
He was later found by security forces suffering from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion and was taken to a provincial hospital for treatment.
What is known about the missing migrants?
Police said five migrants were later found dead from thirst and exhaustion.
Search operations are continuing in the Chahar Burjak district of Nimroz to locate the remaining 14 people, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
“There is still no news about the fate of the other 14 people. Search operations are ongoing,” Qudrat said.
Who were the victims?
A doctor at Nimroz Provincial Hospital said two brothers were among the five victims brought to the facility by security forces.
The victims were reported to be from Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province.
The doctor, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said similar incidents occur frequently as migrants lose their way while attempting to cross the desert into Iran.
Why do Afghans take this route?
Many Afghans attempt to enter Iran in search of employment opportunities and because of the shared Persian language, although legal migration pathways remain limited.
The desert crossing through Nimroz is considered one of the country’s most dangerous migration routes due to extreme weather conditions.
What happens next?
Authorities said the search for the missing migrants is ongoing.
Police also said they are searching for the driver, who reportedly fled the hospital after receiving treatment.
The latest incident follows another deadly border crossing in December, when at least 18 Afghan migrants froze to death while attempting to enter Iran from Herat province during sub-zero temperatures.