Flash Floods In Western Afghanistan Leave 50 Dead, Dozens Missing

Heavy seasonal rains have caused flash floods in western Afghanistan, resulting in over 50 deaths and numerous missing persons.

A view of the flood waters caused by heavy downpour as more than 300 were killed and tens of others have gone missing in Baghlan, Afghanistan on May 16, 2024.

Source : Getty Images

Flash floods resulting from heavy seasonal rains have wreaked havoc in western Afghanistan, claiming at least 50 lives and leaving dozens missing, according to a Taliban official on Saturday. The death toll is based on preliminary reports and may rise, news agency AP reported.

Afghanistan has been experiencing unusually heavy seasonal rains. Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor of Ghor, stated that the province has suffered significant financial losses. Thousands of homes and properties have been damaged, and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed following Friday’s floods, particularly in the capital city of Feroz Koh, according to AP's report.

In response, the Taliban’s chief government spokesman posted on social platform X, mourning “the loss of our fellow Afghans,” and urged “responsible authorities ... to provide all necessary support to alleviate the suffering.” He also called upon “our benevolent donors” to help and humanitarian organisations to provide aid to the affected communities.

Heavy Rains In Afghanistan Killed More Than 300 People

Last week, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) reported that exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan had killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, with the northern province of Baghlan being the worst affected by the floods on May 10th. Survivors in Baghlan have been left without homes, land, or livelihoods, with the WFP highlighting the region's inaccessibility by trucks and its efforts to find alternative ways to deliver food to survivors.

This latest disaster follows on the heels of devastating floods in April that killed at least 70 people and destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques, and four schools in the western provinces of Farah and Herat, as well as the southern provinces of Zabul and Kandahar.

The international community has also been facing similar natural calamities. In Brazil, heavy rain led to significant flooding in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, prompting firefighters to evacuate people. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, authorities have resorted to cloud seeding to prevent further rainfall after flash floods in West Sumatra killed at least 67 people, with 20 more reported missing. Indonesian authorities are making desperate efforts to prevent further disaster following the deluges that hit Sumatra Island, AP reported.