Five Afghans Die, 14 Missing After Attempting Illegal Crossing Into Iran Through Desert

KABUL, July 19: Five people have died and 14 others remain missing after a group of Afghan migrants attempted to illegally cross into Iran through remote desert areas and succumbed to extreme heat and thirst, Afghan authorities said.

The bodies of the five victims were recovered in Nimroz province in southwestern Afghanistan, local media reported on Sunday, citing police officials.

Nimroz police spokesman Gul Mohammad Qudrat said search operations were underway to locate the remaining 14 members of the group, who are still unaccounted for.

The victims were part of a 19-member group that attempted to enter Iran illegally by crossing harsh desert terrain along the border areas of Helmand and Nimroz provinces, according to reports.

Many Afghans, particularly young people facing limited employment opportunities, attempt dangerous illegal routes into Iran in search of work and better living conditions.

The latest deaths highlight the dangers faced by migrants using remote smuggling routes, where extreme weather conditions, lack of water, and difficult terrain often prove fatal.

Last year, several Afghan migrants also died while attempting to cross into Iran, with many losing their lives due to exposure to freezing temperatures during the journey.