Afghanistan Flooding Death Toll Rises to 110, More Rain Forecast
Extreme weather across Afghanistan has killed at least 110 people and injured 160 others over the past 12 days, as heavy rain, flash floods, landslides, lightning strikes and house collapses battered much of the country, officials said Monday. Authorities also said seven people remain missing, while fresh rainfall warnings have raised fears that the toll could climb further.
Officials said 11 people died and six were injured in the past 24 hours alone, showing that the crisis is still unfolding in several provinces. The severe weather has affected most of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, with remote and flood-prone communities among the hardest hit.
The damage has been widespread. Authorities said 958 houses were completely destroyed and another 4,155 homes were partially damaged, leaving thousands of families in urgent need of shelter and assistance. More than 325 kilometres of roads have also been damaged, while businesses, farmland, irrigation canals and drinking water wells have suffered major losses.
The rising toll adds to growing concern over Afghanistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters, particularly during the spring season when sudden storms and snowmelt often trigger flash floods. Aid agencies and weather experts have repeatedly warned that weak infrastructure, fragile housing and poor emergency access leave many rural communities dangerously exposed.
Afghanistan’s meteorological department has warned of more heavy rain and flash flooding across the country in the coming days, urging people to stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone areas. With roads cut, homes destroyed and farmland damaged, the latest wave of storms is likely to deepen humanitarian pressures in communities already struggling with poverty and limited services.
Afghanistan has been hit repeatedly by floods, droughts, earthquakes and severe winter weather in recent years, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme climate shocks. In many provinces, even moderate rainfall can trigger deadly disasters because of deforestation, poor drainage, weak housing and limited disaster preparedness.
The latest death toll shows how quickly natural hazards can turn into a nationwide emergency in Afghanistan. Unless weather conditions improve and relief reaches affected areas quickly, more families could face displacement, food insecurity and further loss of life in the days ahead.
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