Major fire broke out at the customs office in Islam Qala border town in the western province of Herat on Saturday afternoon, the provincial governor Waheed Qatali said.

The governor said that they lack the required facilities to extinguish the blaze; therefore, they have sought Iranian government and the Resolute Support’s help.

“We have spoken with the Resolute Support, the Ministry of Defense and the National Directorate of Security,” said the governor.

Eyewitnesses said that dozens of fuel trucks have caught fire, which is spreading.

Local officials have not commented on possible casualties in the incident but said the fire has left huge financial losses to investors.

The imported power from Iran was disconnected in Herat after the fire damaged a 132-kilovolt power transmission line, the country’s power distributor, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, said.

Herat officials said the fire broke out after a fuel truck exploded.

“People were scared. They were fleeing the area. We also left the area and went home,” said Din Mohammad, an eyewitness of the incident.

“Everyone was terrified. They were escaping. Cars were stuck,” said Khalil Ahmad, an eyewitness.

The chamber of commerce and investment in Herat said the fire has left major economic losses to investors.

“The damages of the fire are not clear so far, but it is extremely concerning and it has made us upset. Such incidents are a shock to the private sector,” said Yunus Qazizada, head of the chamber of commerce and investment in Herat.