RASC News Agency: The humanitarian organization Emergency has reported that a deadly explosion in the city of Gereshk, Helmand province, resulted in multiple fatalities and at least 17 injuries. The wounded were transported to the organization’s surgical center in Lashkargah for urgent medical treatment. In an official statement, Emergency confirmed that the blast occurred on Friday, March 21, in a crowded market in Gereshk. However, the organization refrained from disclosing the exact number of fatalities. According to the statement, five of the injured are in critical condition, five remain stable, and seven sustained minor injuries from the explosion.
Immediately following the attack, two ambulances from Emergency’s medical facilities in Nawa-e-Barakzai and Shuraki were dispatched to Gereshk to expedite the evacuation of the wounded to Lashkargah’s surgical center. Dejan Panic, head of Emergency’s Afghanistan office, described the situation as dire, stating:
“Our ambulances are continuously transporting patients between our first aid centers in Gereshk and our hospital in Lashkargah. The situation is critical; the patients we are receiving have suffered severe injuries and trauma, with five individuals in life-threatening condition. Our medical teams are working tirelessly to provide immediate care.”
He further emphasized the devastating impact of the explosion, adding:
“The blast in Gereshk’s marketplace has resulted in numerous casualties. Many injured civilians are currently receiving treatment at our hospital, while additional trauma patients from other parts of Helmand continue to arrive in need of urgent medical attention.” As of now, local Taliban authorities in Helmand have not issued any official statements regarding the attack. Furthermore, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, which marks the first major bombing incident reported in Afghanistan in the solar year 1404.
