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Shocking scenes at Kabul airport as US evacuates staff from Afghanistan
The BBC said scenes of panic at Kabul airport went viral as desperate residents try to flee following the seizure of the Afghan capital by the Taliban.
According to the British media corporation, witnesses say at least three civilians died on Monday in the chaos at the airport, which is being secured by US troops. Some people tried to cling on to planes as they took off.
It reported that with scheduled flights suspended, many foreigners and Afghans are stranded.
The US and other countries are rushing to evacuate staff and allies.
Read more: UK troops withdrawal from Afghanistan is Britain’s biggest foreign policy disaster
The militants' return to rule brings an end to almost 20 years of a US-led coalition's presence in the country.
It should be noted that the Islamist group was able to seize control after most foreign troops pulled out.
The BBC added, following the Taliban's seizure of Kabul, many people headed to the airport.
Evacuations of foreigners and some Afghans with links to foreign governments and organisations have been taking place, but passengers said rumours spread that even those without visas were being allowed to travel.
As huge crowds gathered, US forces reportedly fired into the air to disperse people who were trying to force their way onto planes. There were reports that some died in the stampede.
People running desperately as a @usairforce plane is taking off #KabulAirport #Afghanistan.
The US is only evacuating its citizens from #Afghanistan; the president has fled and the #Taliban took over the capital. pic.twitter.com/LJdQAz36v6
— Suhrab Sirat (@SuhrabSirat) August 16, 2021
Video obtained by Afghan media outlets showed people clinging to the side of a plane as it began to taxi on the runway.
Another video appeared to show men falling from a plane that had taken off
The US has sent 6,000 troops to assist in the evacuation.
Citing a US government statement, the BBC reported that thousands of American citizens, locals embassy staff and their families, as well as other "vulnerable Afghan nationals" will be airlifted in the coming days.
As for the UK, about 600 British troops have been deployed to assist with their own withdrawal mission.
Source: BBC
