Five Killed as Floods and Storms Hit Eight Provinces in Afghanistan

Over the past two days, storms, heavy rainfall, and flash floods have killed five people and caused extensive financial losses across several provinces in Afghanistan.

Officials from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said the natural disasters have destroyed hundreds of acres of farmland, residential houses, roads, and irrigation canals.

ANDMA spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Hamad said: “During the past 48 hours, storms, landslides, and floods in Kabul, Zabul, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Takhar, Kandahar, and Samangan provinces claimed the lives of five people. Thirty houses and 15 shops were partially destroyed. One bridge, a drinking water supply network, and 86 kilometers of roads were also damaged. In addition, 2,225 jeribs of farmland, 285 solar panels, and six vehicles were destroyed. A total of 295 livestock perished, while 199 families were affected.”

The spokesperson for the Kunar Department of Natural Disaster Management, Ezatullah Karimi, said: “Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall hit Kunar city and several districts yesterday, causing both casualties and financial losses. One person was killed, 200 homes were completely or partially destroyed, 86 kilometers of main and secondary roads were damaged, and 230 large and small domestic animals were lost.”

Local residents say the floods destroyed their homes, household belongings, and other property, disrupting their daily lives.

One flood victim, Sajjad Bahir, said: “After the rain, a flash flood suddenly swept through. It knocked down the walls of our house. It was like facing death. I quickly escaped from the house, which had already been destroyed. When I came outside, I saw the floodwaters had also inundated our farmland.”

Another resident, Gul Mohammad, said: “The rain and floods destroyed our home and crops, causing heavy financial losses. We ask the government and aid organizations to help us rebuild our homes, walls, and farmland.”

Meanwhile, several other affected residents, whose livelihoods depend mainly on farming and livestock, said their standing crops had been destroyed and appealed to the relevant authorities for assistance.

Another flood victim in Kunar, Mohammad, said: “Heavy floods entered our home after the rainfall, destroying our walls and farmland. Fortunately, no one was injured, but we suffered significant financial losses.”

Another resident, Ghulam Khan, said: “The flood swept away several jeribs of cultivated land. We had spent between 40,000 and 50,000 Afghanis on each jerib, but the floodwaters washed everything away, causing severe losses.”

The impacts of climate change continue to increase the frequency and severity of heavy rainfall and flooding in Afghanistan, destroying homes, farmland, and public infrastructure and leaving lasting effects on people’s lives.

Experts believe that better management of the country’s natural resources, particularly water, greater attention to forest conservation and expansion, and stronger measures to adapt to climate change could help reduce the impact of future natural disasters.