According to the government’s disaster management department, at least 33 people lost their lives due to heavy rains and flash flooding in Afghanistan over a three-day period.
“Starting from Friday, the heavy rains led to flash floods that resulted in significant human and financial losses,” stated department spokesperson Janan Sayeq on Sunday.
Initial reports indicate that 33 individuals lost their lives, and 27 others sustained injuries during the floods. Most of the casualties were due to roof collapses, with around 600 houses damaged or destroyed.
Additionally, approximately 200 livestock perished, and nearly 600 kilometers of roads were washed away. The flooding also affected around 800 hectares of agricultural land.
The heavy rains impacted twenty of Afghanistan’s thirty-four provinces, causing extensive damage in provinces such as Western Farah, Herat, southern Zabul, and Kandahar, as highlighted by Sayeq.
Further concerns arise as more rain is expected in the coming days across most provinces in Afghanistan.
The situation is compounded by a dry winter season, which has parched the land and delayed planting for farmers.
Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, foreign aid to Afghanistan has significantly decreased, impacting relief efforts during natural disasters.
This recent flooding incident adds to a series of weather-related tragedies in Afghanistan, including a landslide in February and a spate of precipitation-related deaths in March.
The United Nations has previously warned about Afghanistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather conditions, with scientists attributing these harsh weather patterns to global warming.
Afghanistan, having endured decades of war, is ill-prepared to handle the impacts of climate change.
Source-Aljazeera
