Afghanistan floods claim 50 lives, thousands of homes damaged
Heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in central Afghanistan have claimed the lives of at least 50 people. The devastating news was officially announced on Saturday by Mawlawi Abdul Hai Zaeem, the head of the information department for the central Ghor province. He reported that this disastrous spell of rain began on Friday, causing significant damage to infrastructure and completely destroying 2,000 houses.
Extensive damage to property and infrastructure
Zaeem further disclosed that, in addition to the 2,000 houses completely destroyed, another 4,000 suffered partial damage. The flooding also wreaked havoc on commercial establishments, with over 2,000 shops in Feroz-Koh, the province's capital, submerged under water. Unfortunately, no data regarding the number of people injured during this period was available as of Saturday.
Recent disasters and accidents add to Afghanistan's woes
This recent disaster follows a series of flash floods triggered by heavy rains last week in northern Afghanistan, which killed 315 people. More than 1,600 people were also injured during these floods. The United Nations has identified Afghanistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, making it highly susceptible to natural disasters. The situation is further exacerbated by a significant shortfall in aid since the Taliban took power following the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021.
