Afghanistan flash floods: 17 dead, thousands affected amid heavy rainfall
PTC Web Desk: At least 17 persons have lost their lives and 11 others have been injured following flash floods triggered by the first heavy rains and snowfall of the season in Afghanistan, officials reported. The sudden floods have impacted multiple regions, causing damage to homes, roads, and livestock.
According to Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), most fatalities have occurred since Monday in the districts most severely affected by the flooding. The extreme weather has disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern and western provinces.
Hammad added that the floods have damaged infrastructure, destroyed livestock and affected approximately 1,800 families. Teams have been dispatched to the hardest-hit areas to conduct assessments and determine urgent relief needs.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including flash floods during seasonal rains. Factors such as years of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation, and climate change have heightened the risks, particularly in remote regions where many homes are constructed from mud and provide minimal protection.
The United Nations and other humanitarian organisations have warned that Afghanistan is likely to continue facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. On Tuesday, the UN launched a $1.7 billion appeal to support nearly 18 million people in urgent need of aid.
- With inputs from agencies
