Chaos at Kabul Airport as hundreds stampede runways in desperate bid to flee

Hundreds of terrified travellers were seen storming into Kabul airport in a desperate bid to flee as the Taliban entered the city.

Harrowing footage released on social media appeared to show chaotic scenes as people pushed into Hamid Karzai International Airport.

It came as it emerged Afghanistan's president had fled the country in a bid to 'avoid bloodshed' with the Taliban entering the capital.

People caught up in the chaos took to social media to claim the airport had fallen into anarchy with insufficient security to maintain order.

There were also unconfirmed reports of gunfire on the runway as the scramble to flee the country intensified.

Faced with the ensuing chaos the US embassy issued a security warning.

It said on social media: "There are reports of the airport taking fire; therefore we are instructing U.S. citizens to shelter in place."

One video that emerged on social media appeared to show scores of people on the runway heading towards a commercial plane.

Gunfire has been reported by some

Another showed a large group pulling each other up onto a plane as many flee the country.

All commercial flights out of Kabul airport have now been suspended as military aircraft carried out the evacuation in scenes which have been compared to the Fall of Saigon in Vietnam in 1975.

As America's CH47 Chinook helicopters lifted staff from embassy gardens and roofs, US Apache -helicopters buzzed the airport perimeter to warn off Taliban forces.

The US issued a security alert

A Brit private security worker who got out told the Mirror: "It was a nightmare extraction as we dodged traffic for the last dash to the airport. There was apparently shooting at checkpoints.

"Kabul was rammed with traffic and refugees as the Taliban entered the city and we were ordered to evacuate. It happened so quickly.

"I hope that everyone got out - driving to the airport was horrific and some of us didn't think we would make it out in time."

It comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday he had fled the country to avoid bloodshed as the Taliban entered the capital Kabul.

Scenes were reminiscent of the fall of Saigon in 1975 ( Twitter)

In a post on his Facebook page, Ghani said he had faced a difficult decision, with the fate of millions of Kabul residents and the security of the city at stake after 20 years of war in which countless numbers had already been killed.

"To avoid bloodshed, I thought it would be better to leave," he said in his first comments since quitting the presidential palace and flying out of the country."

He added that the Taliban insurgents, who later entered the presidential palace in Kabul, now faced an historic test.

"The Taliban won victory in the judgment of sword and gun and they have responsibility to protect the honour, prosperity and self-respect of our compatriots," he said.