Thousands of people rushed onto the runway, Kabul airport was in chaos

Thousands of Afghans rushed to the runway trying to leave the country. Source: AFP

Kabul airport was plunged into chaos on August 16 as thousands of Afghans tried to leave the country after the Taliban took control of the capital.

Meanwhile, Taliban forces have set up security checkpoints in the city and there have been no clashes.

Images posted on social media show that just hours after the Taliban declared control of the capital Kabul, on the night of August 15 and early morning of August 16, thousands of people rushed onto the runway, trying to board planes.

US forces responsible for securing the airport were forced to fire several shots into the air to warn the crowd that had gotten out of control.

Reuters news agency quoted witnesses as saying that they saw at least 5 bodies being transferred to vehicles, it was unclear whether they died from gunshots or were trampled by the jostling crowd. Due to the chaotic situation, airport authorities were forced to cancel the remaining commercial flights.

US forces are currently in charge of security at Kabul airport to ensure the evacuation of diplomatic staff and citizens of other countries takes place smoothly and safely.

On Twitter, the US Embassy in Kabul urged US citizens and Afghans not to travel to Kabul airport at this time.

The US Embassy also said that all of its staff were taken safely to the airport, and while waiting to be repatriated, they were housed in a completely separate area from those who were not allowed to be evacuated.

Meanwhile, outside the airport, the situation in Kabul was calm, with no fighting while armed Taliban gunmen patrolled the streets.

The force also claimed to have controlled more than 90% of government headquarters and almost all checkpoints in the city./.