As the Taliban takes control of the Afghan capital, graphic and unsettling videos depict chaotic and deadly situations at Kabul airport.
Hundreds of Afghans climb onto planes in an apparent attempt to get out of the country, according to multiple videos posted on social media on Monday.
The sound of gunfire can be heard in several clips, but the source is unknown.
One witness told Reuters that he observed five people's bodies being loaded into a car, while another claimed it was unclear whether the victims were killed by bullets or in a stampede.
NBC foreign journalist Richard Engel tweeted, "Lots of bursts of gunfire near Kabul airport this am," "Many checkpoints have been set up by the Taliban in the region. There are reports that they are shooting down planes. Taliban has taken a combative stance. Chaos."
"Several people were killed at Kabul airport," Khalifa Evaz said on Twitter at 10:30 a.m. local time, along with a video clip showing three motionless bodies on the ground. The video has been seen over 200,000 times since its release.
Hundreds of people scramble over each other in an attempt to scale the air bridge, according to another video supplied by journalist Sultan Faizy.
Journalist Ahmer Khan tweeted, "Desperate situation unfolding at Kabul airport this morning," "Thousands of Afghans have gathered at Kabul International Airport. They're chasing down moving planes "Later, he said.
According to Reuters, a US official confirmed that US troops fired bullets into the air to disperse the crowd.
"I'm terrified right now. They're launching a barrage of bullets into the air "AFP was informed by a witness.
Taliban fighters have been patrolling the city streets since insurgents entered the outskirts of Kabul on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the US military has assumed control of the Kabul airport's security to ensure that foreign diplomats and people are not evacuated. The evacuation of American embassy staff to Kabul Airport had been completed earlier, according to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
The Pentagon also stated that commercial flights had been grounded due to the Taliban terrorists' takeover of the city.
Taliban insurgents attacked Kabul's outskirts "from all sides," early Sunday, according to Afghan officials.
According to The Associated Press, the group said it will soon announce the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace.
Near the former US embassy, which had been relocated to the airport, smoke could be seen. Important records were destroyed, and the American flag was lowered. According to the Associated Press, other Western missions are reportedly planning to remove employees.
Afghans raced to flee the country, fearing that the Taliban would reimpose cruel rule and remove women's rights. According to the Associated Press, many destitute Afghans have moved to Kabul, which has a population of around 4 million people.
According to acting Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, power would be given over to the Taliban in a peaceful manner. The insurgents had promised that they would not take Kabul by force.
"No one's life, property, and dignity will be harmed and the lives of the citizens of Kabul will not be at risk," the Taliban stated.
President Joe Biden of the United States has ordered the deployment of 5,000 troops to Kabul to ensure the safe withdrawal of US people and allies.
On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is said to have escaped to Tajikistan.
"Afghanistan's previous president has fled the country, putting it in a precarious situation. He should be held accountable by God "In a Facebook video, Abdullah Abdullah, a key political figure and the head of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, said.
Following the withdrawal of the US and its allies, the Taliban took control of practically the whole country in just over a week, with little resistance.
