News|WeatherAt least 17 dead as heavy rains trigger flash floods in AfghanistanDead include five members of a family in the Kabkan district in the province of Herat.
Heavy rainfall and snowfall have concluded a lengthy drought in Afghanistan, resulting in flash floods that caused the deaths of at least 17 individuals and injured 11 others. This information was confirmed by local authorities.
Heavy rainfall and snowfall have concluded a lengthy drought in Afghanistan, resulting in flash floods that caused the deaths of at least 17 individuals and injured 11 others. This information was confirmed by local authorities.
Five family members perished when the roof of their residence collapsed in Kabkan, a district in Herat province, on Thursday. The victims included two children, as reported by Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesperson for the Herat governor.
According to Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), most casualties occurred since Monday in districts impacted by the flooding. The severe weather conditions have disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions.
Impact on Infrastructure and Livelihoods
The floods have caused significant damage to infrastructure, resulted in the loss of livestock, and affected 1,800 families, exacerbating conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities. Assessment teams have been dispatched to the most severely affected areas to evaluate needs further.
Five family members perished when the roof of their residence collapsed in Kabkan, a district in Herat province, on Thursday.
Video footage available online depicts a truck overturning on the Herat-Kandahar highway due to flash flooding, and another video shows individuals attempting to escape from a bus overturned in floodwaters.
Vulnerability to Extreme Weather Events
Afghanistan is highly susceptible to extreme weather events, particularly flash floods following seasonal rains. Factors such as decades of conflict, inadequate infrastructure, deforestation, and climate change have amplified the impact of these disasters, especially in remote areas where many homes are constructed from mud and offer limited protection.
In August, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities. Rescue efforts were impeded by concurrent flash floods in Nangarhar province.
This week, the United Nations and various aid agencies highlighted that Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crises in 2026. A $1.7 billion appeal was launched on Tuesday to support nearly 18 million people in need within the country.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.