Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods Kill Dozens in Afghanistan

Dozens of people including children and women lost their lives due to heavy rainfalls and flash floods in many provinces of Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said.

Heavy rainfalls and flash floods affected people in at least 17 provinces including in Kandahar where many families have lost their homes and suffered financial losses.

Ahmad Khan Nafey, head of the committee for National Disaster Management said that at least 442 families have been affected due to rainfalls and flash floods in the country.

He stressed that 1,422 families have received food and non-food assistance.

Officials in Kandahar, however, said that at least 20 people have been killed and 26 more including children and women wounded in the incident.

Abdul Hanan Munib, the provincial deputy governor said that 1,596 homes have also been damaged in the province.

 Local authorities stressed that the humanitarian assistance has not been enough in Kandahar and called for additional funds of  20 million Afghanis to address the issue in the province.  

In addition,  flash floods killed at least six people and wounded seven others in Helmand province.

The provincial governor’s spokesman Omar Zwak said that at least 100 homes have been damaged in the incident.

This comes as Afghanistan’s meteorology department forecasts more rain, snow and flash floods in many provinces in upcoming months.