Heavy rains cause at least 17 deaths in Afghanistan flash floods

At Least 17 People Killed in Flash Floods Across Afghanistan

Heavy rains and snowfall have ended a prolonged dry spell in Afghanistan, but triggered flash floods that have resulted in at least 17 deaths and 11 injuries, according to authorities. The victims include five members of a family whose property collapsed on Thursday in Kabkan district, Herat province.

According to Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor, two of the deceased were children. Most of the casualties have occurred since Monday in districts affected by flooding. The severe weather has also disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions.

Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), reported that the floods damaged infrastructure, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families. The agency has sent assessment teams to the worst-affected areas, with surveys ongoing to determine further needs.

The flash floods have also caused damage to vehicles, including a truck that overturned on Afghanistan’s Herat-Kandahar highway near Dasht-e Bakwa. In another incident, several people were seen desperately trying to escape after their bus overturned in strong flood currents.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events due to decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, deforestation, and the effects of climate change. The country has experienced several natural disasters in recent years, including a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in August that killed over 1,400 people.

The United Nations and other aid agencies have launched a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need in Afghanistan.

Source: Al Jazeera