[imagesource: Twitter / @NicolaCareem]
The situation on the ground in Afghanistan is nothing short of dire.
At least five people were killed at Kabul’s airport, as thousands of desperate citizens attempted last-gasp efforts to flee the country.
They know full well that with the Taliban taking control of the country, there will be no rule of law.
It’s unclear how the five confirmed deaths happened, with a US official stating that “troops had fired in the air to deter people trying to force their way onto a military flight that was set to take US diplomats and embassy staff out of the fallen city.”
This via Business Day:
One witness, waiting for a flight out for more than 20 hours, said it was unclear if the five had been shot or killed in a stampede…
In a social media video, three bodies could be seen on the ground near what appeared to be an airport side entrance. Reuters could not verify the footage. Another witness said he had also seen five bodies.
The frantic disorder included people swarming around and clinging to a US military transport plane as it taxied on the runway, according to footage posted by a media company.
Take a second to imagine the sheer desperation that drives you to cling to a plane as it takes off:
Insane. Don’t have any other words.
The Kabul Airport.
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) August 16, 2021
A warning that the footage that follows is very disturbing.
Bodies could be seen falling from a C-17, which is a US Air Force transport plane:
Exclusive- A clear video (from other angle) of men falling from C-17. They were Clinging to some parts of the plane that took off from Kabul airport today. #Talibans #Afghanistan #Afghanishtan pic.twitter.com/CMNW5ngqrK
— Aśvaka – آسواکا News Agency (@AsvakaNews) August 16, 2021
In this still, you can clearly see bodies falling from the sky.
More from NewsAU:
Footage taken in Khairkahana, in the north west of Kabul, showed locals collecting bodies of at least three men who were “clinging to the wheels”. It is believed the bodies fell “on top of people’s homes”.
“One of the locals confirmed this and said that the fall of these people made a loud and terrifying noise,” Aśvaka News Agency said.
As of around 1:30PM our time, all evacuation flights from Kabul’s airport had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, there are reports of Taliban fighters going door to door:
Taliban fighters going door-to-door in #Kabul, looking for government employees, soldiers and police, and Afghans who worked with foreign govts and NGOs, several residents tell me.
— Frud Bezhan فرود بيژن (@FrudBezhan) August 16, 2021
Taliban started door to door search looking for govt officials, former police & security forces members & those who worked for foreign countries NGOs or infrastructures in Afghanistan.
At least 3 journalists’ houses were searched in the last hour.
Kabul is now becoming deadly..
— Mustafa 47 (@CombatJourno) August 16, 2021
Multiple airlines are said to be avoiding Afghan airspace.
[sources:businessday&newsau]
