Heavy rain in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan resulted in severe flooding, claiming the lives of at least 153 people, according to Ministry of the Interior spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee. He warned that the death toll might increase as the situation develops.
Qaniee explained that the flooding affected more than five districts, leaving some families stranded and urgently needing assistance. He also noted the forecast of two severe storms later that night.
Rescue efforts are underway, with teams and helicopters dispatched to the disaster zones. However, Qaniee mentioned a critical shortage of night vision equipment on helicopters, which could hinder the rescue operations.
This disaster follows a recent pattern of extreme weather in Afghanistan. Last month, approximately 70 people died due to heavy rains, as reported by the government’s disaster management department. The country had experienced an unusually dry winter, leaving the ground ill-prepared for the spring’s heavy rains, leading to widespread floods across various provinces.
Disaster management spokesman Janan Sayeq indicated that last month’s rains resulted in 56 injuries, damage or destruction to over 2,600 houses, and devastation to 95,000 acres of farmland.
The United Nations has previously highlighted Afghanistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather fluctuations, exacerbated by decades of conflict. The nation is among those least equipped to handle such challenges, which are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change.
Earlier this year, extreme weather continued to impact Afghanistan, with 25 people perishing in a February landslide triggered by massive snowfall in the eastern region and about 60 deaths following three weeks of heavy precipitation in March.
