Current:Home > NewsAt least 68 dead in Afghanistan after flash floods caused by unusually heavy seasonal rains -AssetLink
At least 68 dead in Afghanistan after flash floods caused by unusually heavy seasonal rains
View
Date:2025-04-12 09:48:14
Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains have killed at least 68 people in Afghanistan, Taliban officials said Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports.
Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains.
In the hard-hit western province of Ghor, 50 people were reported dead, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor. He also said the province has suffered significant financial losses after thousands of homes and properties were damaged and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed following Friday's floods, including the capital city Feroz Koh.
Meanwhile, 18 people in the northern province of Farayab were killed and two others injured on Friday, according to Esmatullah Moradi, the provincial governor's spokesman. Damages to property and land were reported across four districts and over 300 animals were killed, he added.
The U.N. food agency posted on social media platform X, saying Ghor was the most affected by the floods where 2500 families were impacted. WFP assessment teams are on the ground to deploy assistance, the post said.
The Taliban's government chief spokesman mourned "the loss of our fellow Afghans," and urged "responsible authorities ... to provide all necessary support to alleviate the suffering," in a post on X. He also called on "our benevolent donors" to help and humanitarian organizations to provide the affected communities with aid.
Last week, WFP said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan, which bore the brunt of floods on May 10.
Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, the World Food Organization said. Most of Baghlan is "inaccessible by trucks," said WFP, adding that it is resorting to every alternative it can think of to deliver food to the survivors
The latest disaster came on the heels of devastating floods that killed at least 70 people in April. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.
In 2022, heavy flooding from seasonal rains in eastern Afghanistan and neighboring parts of Pakistan left dozens of people dead, according to local officials.
- In:
- Afghanistan
- Flood
veryGood! (357)
Related
- Connie Chiume, Black Panther Actress, Dead at 72: Lupita Nyong'o and More Pay Tribute
- Florida Legislature passes bill to release state grand jury’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation
- Alabama hospital puts pause on IVF in wake of ruling saying frozen embryos are children
- Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens had Russian intelligence contacts, prosecutors say
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Fear for California woman Ksenia Karelina after arrest in Russia on suspicion of treason over Ukraine donation
- A Colorado man is dead after a pet Gila monster bite
- College student who shares flight information for Taylor Swift's jet responds to her lawyers' cease-and-desist: Look What You Made Me Do
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- MLS opening week schedule: Messi, Inter Miami kick off 2024 season vs. Real Salt Lake
Ranking
- Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
- Police say armed Texas student wounded by officers in school had meant to hurt people
- Selena Gomez's Makeup Artist Melissa Murdick Reveals Her Foolproof Secret for Concealing Acne Breakouts
- Harvard condemns student and faculty groups for posting antisemitic cartoon
- 'Meet me at the gate': Watch as widow scatters husband's ashes, BASE jumps into canyon
- White House wades into debate on ‘open’ versus ‘closed’ artificial intelligence systems
- Green Bay schools release tape of first Black superintendent’s comments that preceded resignation
- Master All Four Elements With This Avatar: The Last Airbender Gift Guide
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
The Best Makeup Removers by Type With Picks From Olivia Culpo, Chloe Bailey, Paige DeSorbo, and More
A 12-year-old boy died at a wilderness therapy program. He's not the first.
Man suspected in killing of woman in NYC hotel room arrested in Arizona after two stabbings there
Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
Blake Lively Reveals She Just Hit This Major Motherhood Milestone With 4 Kids
Prince William wants to see end to Israel-Hamas war 'as soon as possible'
Boeing ousts the head of its troubled 737 Max program after quality control concerns