Reports from provincial police in western Afghanistan indicate that flash flooding has caused the death of at least 50 people, with some managing to find higher ground just moments before the water hit.
The floods occurred on Friday, destroying about 2,000 houses and damaging thousands more homes and businesses, according to Ghor police spokesman Abdul Rahman Badri.
This latest incident of flooding is a result of the country’s above-average spring rainfall, following previous flash floods in northern Baghlan province on May 10 which led to the disappearance of many individuals.
Abdul Rahman Badri stated: “Fifty residents of Ghor province were killed by the floods on Friday, and some others are still missing.”
One survivor from Firozkoh district, Zahir Zahid, recounted how his family heard warnings of flash floods and were able to escape to safety just before their house was destroyed. The disaster has left hundreds homeless and in need of immediate assistance.
The UN’s World Food Programme and local officials reported that over 300 people died in the earlier flood disaster, with roads and infrastructure significantly impacted.
Afghanistan, facing the dual challenges of flooding and drought, has seen a series of natural disasters in recent months, causing significant loss of life and widespread devastation.
The ongoing climate crisis in the region, coupled with years of conflict, has left the country in a precarious state, with urgent humanitarian aid needed to support the affected population.
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