OTTAWA -- Hundreds hoped the sewer near Kabul airport would be their gateway to Canada, but when the last Canadian flight left early on Thursday, those desperate people were trapped at the same airport where suicide bombers staged an attack hours later, killing more than 70 people.
U.S. officials said that 13 U.S. service members were killed when explosions occurred near a crowded entry gate to the airport, followed by gunmen firing into the crowd. The act of terrorism was carried out by an Afghan chapter of the Islamic State Khorasan, known as ISIS-K.
At least 60 Afghans gathered at the airport in the hopes of escaping the country, were killed.
The family of a former interpreter with the Canadian Forces says they left the gate just hours before the blast. They had been waiting there for days for help.
鈥淎fter four days and nights we came to home,鈥� the former interpreter told CTV News. 鈥淥ur house is near the airport, the sound of [the] explosion was horrible.鈥�
An unknown number of Canadian families and Afghans with Canadian connections 鈥� such as those who aided Canadians, including former interpreters for the military 鈥� may have been caught in the deadly attack.
鈥淎ll those allies who years and years worked for them,鈥� the interpreter said.
He and his family had left the airport after finding out that their window to flee the Taliban鈥檚 rule on a Canadian flight had been slammed shut.
Officials confirmed Canada鈥檚 evacuation mission ended with a final airlift overnight. Canada鈥檚 withdrawal at this point was to allow the U.S. to meet their Aug 31st deadline for the withdrawal of their forces.
After nine flights out of Kabul, those left behind by Canada received a message from the government, saying no more planes would come for them.
鈥淲e wish we could have stayed longer and rescued everyone who was so desperate to leave. That we could not is truly heartbreaking, but the circumstances on the ground rapidly deteriorated,鈥� Gen. Wayne Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff said.
Only a small contingent of Armed Forces Personnel stayed on in the country. All were safe after Thursday鈥檚 explosions, the Canadian Forces confirmed.
Eyre said that Canadians were among the last to leave, and that Canada brought roughly 3,700 people out of Afghanistan. But roughly 8,000 applied for emergency help to come to Canada.
In an emotional briefing, he said that the conditions of the withdrawal at the airport were dangerous, and that they were under threat of attack constantly, praising the Canadian Forces for their work.
鈥淭hey've witnessed horrific things. They've faced incredible dangers,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd the feeling of helplessness and guilt that arises from having to leave people behind can be overwhelming.鈥�
But it鈥檚 little consolation to those left stranded. Among those now searching for other escape routes are families holding Canadian passports.
Hameid, whose last name we are not revealing, is in Canada organizing a campaign to get his parents and three sisters home.
They had travelled to Afghanistan for a wedding, and are now trapped. He added that one of his family members was 鈥渟tepped on鈥� in the crowd at the airport, 鈥渂ecause what can you do, everyone is 鈥榯ake me, take me, take me.鈥�
Hameid says he is hurt Canada isn鈥檛 doing more to aid his family.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that a status on somebody鈥檚 passport saves their lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is more the efforts of the government [to ensure] that they belong.鈥�
Afghan interpreters and contractors who worked with Canadian forces are also trapped, now looking for a new escape route via a third country.
They hope Canada will help secure VISAs, though Taliban checkpoints make any movement now extremely risky.
鈥淚f they find a single piece of paper which mentions NATO or U.S., that means we are dead,鈥� said a former interpreter.
Another person who narrowly escaped death today is Reza. He waited at the Abbey Gate for hours 鈥� where a bomb would later explode. He escaped the explosion, but fears he may not escape the Taliban.
鈥淚鈥檓 scared, as well as I鈥檓 really looking for a place to take my family because they deserve to live in a peaceful country,鈥� he said.
He supported Canada鈥檚 role in Afghanistan, including a project to promote human rights, and received an award from Canada鈥檚 former ambassador, Deborah Lyons.
鈥淲e were working like friends, but today it鈥檚 not that,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat friendship is not working anymore.鈥�
He and other former interpreters and allies hope that the country they worked for won鈥檛 turn its back now.
But just what Canada can do isn鈥檛 clear. And the devastating aftermath of the explosion is just further evidence of the chaos and violence those remaining in Afghanistan face.
With files from the Canadian Press
