KABUL: Heavy rainfall in Afghanistan has led to devastating flash floods, claiming the lives of at least 66 people and causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and farmlands in various parts of the country, authorities reported on Tuesday.
The storms, which started over the weekend, are exacerbating the challenges confronting Afghanistan, a nation still grappling with the aftermath of decades of conflict and a series of natural disasters, including severe droughts in recent years and deadly earthquakes.
“According to initial reports from the provinces, at least 66 people have lost their lives, with 36 others sustaining injuries,” stated Janan Sayeq, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority.
The casualty count has doubled since Sunday, raising concerns that the actual toll could be higher, with many fatalities occurring due to collapsed homes.
1,235 Houses Damaged as Flash Floods Strike Afghanistan
A total of 1,235 houses have been destroyed by the flash floods, which have affected 23 out of the country’s 34 provinces.
The floods have not only damaged crops just before the harvest season but have also exacerbated food security concerns in a nation where over half the population needs humanitarian aid.
“The wheat crops will be ready for harvest in a few weeks, but the rainfall could destroy most of it,” lamented Gul Hussain, a farmer from the eastern Laghman province, a key agricultural region.
The impact of both drought and floods has been particularly severe for rural families already struggling to access water.
“The floods have had severe effects on the lives of people in the southeast, southwest, and east of the country, causing loss of life, damage to homes, and economic and agricultural losses as crops are destroyed and livestock are killed,” explained Najibullah Sadid, a hydrologist.
Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and depleted vegetation leave little room for people to escape flooding events, while water management infrastructure remains inadequate. Compared to neighboring countries like Iran and Pakistan, Afghanistan has significantly less storage capacity, making it more vulnerable to floods during heavy rainfall.
“Given the increasing impacts of climate change and the rising frequency and intensity of rainfall, the measures taken over the past two decades and at present are insufficient to address the situation,” Sadid warned.
