A tragic bus accident in Afghanistan’s capital early Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 26 people, according to a Taliban official.

The crash happened in the Arghandi area of Kabul during the early morning hours.

The bus was traveling from southern Afghanistan, carrying passengers from the Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Authorities said reckless driving was the main cause of the accident, which also left 27 people injured, Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani reported.

The bus, a 580-model vehicle, reportedly went off the road and tumbled down an embankment around 3 a.m.

It was en route from Kandahar to Kabul when the accident occurred.

Emergency responders and local witnesses rushed to the scene to rescue passengers, recover bodies, and transport the injured to hospitals.

Many survivors are reportedly in critical condition and receiving medical care.

This incident comes just days after another tragic bus crash in Herat province, which killed around 80 people, raising serious concerns about road safety in Afghanistan.