Afghanistan Flash Floods Claim At Least 17 Lives After Heavy Rains
Heavy rains cause flash floods in Afghanistan, killing at least 17 and injuring 11.
At least 17 people have lost their lives and 11 others have been injured after flash floods swept through several parts of Afghanistan following the season’s first heavy rains and snowfall. The sudden weather change ended a prolonged dry spell but caused widespread destruction across central, northern, southern, and western regions, officials said on Thursday.
Among the victims were five members of a single family in Kabkan district of Herat province, where a house roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall. Two of those killed were children, according to Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesperson for the Herat governor. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of homes in flood-prone areas.
Most of the casualties have been reported since Monday in districts severely hit by flooding, said Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority. The floods disrupted daily life, damaged infrastructure, and killed livestock, further straining livelihoods in affected regions.
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According to disaster management officials, nearly 1,800 families have been impacted by the floods. Emergency assessment teams have been dispatched to the worst-hit areas to evaluate damage and determine immediate relief needs. Authorities warned that the full extent of losses may increase as assessments continue.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as flash floods, particularly during seasonal rains. Years of conflict, poor infrastructure, deforestation, and the growing impact of climate change have intensified the effects of such disasters, especially in remote areas with fragile housing.
The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that Afghanistan is likely to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. Earlier this week, the UN and its partners launched a $1.7 billion appeal to support nearly 18 million people in urgent need, as recurring natural disasters continue to compound the country’s challenges.
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