Deadly Rain Havoc in Afghanistan: Floods and Landslides Claim 17 Lives
Kabul: At least 17 people have lost their lives and 26 others have been injured in rain-related incidents across Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, officials confirmed.
According to Hafiz Mohammad Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods, landslides, and lightning strikes in several parts of the country. The worst-affected areas include provinces such as Parwan Province, Daikundi Province, Wardak Province, and Logar Province.
The disaster has caused widespread destruction, with at least 147 houses damaged. Around 80 kilometers of roads have been washed away, while 582 acres of agricultural land, along with 31 water canals and irrigation networks, have been severely affected. Officials noted that these figures are preliminary, and the death toll may rise as more information becomes available.
The country’s meteorological department has warned of further rainfall in the coming days, raising concerns about additional flooding, especially in mountainous and vulnerable regions.
Earlier, on January 22, severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and rain, had claimed at least 11 lives and left three others injured. Provinces such as Parwan, Wardak, southern Kandahar, northern Jowzjan, Faryab, and central Bamiyan were affected.
Storms partially destroyed nine houses and killed around 530 livestock, severely impacting livelihoods in these agriculture-dependent regions. Snow accumulation had also blocked several key roads, prompting immediate clearance efforts by authorities.
In a similar incident last October, heavy rains and flash floods affected 721 families in Kabul, Laghman Province, and Kapisa Province. Over 1,000 acres of farmland were washed away, causing significant losses to farmers, particularly fruit growers, while several kilometers of roads were damaged.
