Heavy seasonal rains triggered flash floods in Afghanistan’s northern provinces on Friday, killing at least 50 people and leaving many missing, the Associated Press reported, citing a Taliban official.
Officials said the death toll from flooding in Baghlan province, which also hit the southern capital of Kabul, is likely to rise, according to The Associated Press. According to the Associated Press, many homes have been destroyed and rescue teams are delivering food and aid to affected areas.
In recent years, Afghanistan has experienced a severe economic crisis, frequent natural disasters, turbulent wars, and constant conflicts with neighboring Pakistan.
The International Rescue Committee said in a statement last year that this year’s wet weather, caused in part by El Niño, has increased the risk of flooding and hampered crop production and the flow of food supplies, especially in the north and northeast of the country. .
Flash floods caused by heavy rains last month inundated much of Afghanistan, killing more than 100 people, destroying more than 1,000 homes and destroying more than 60,000 acres of farmland, the group said.
Damage to roads, bridges and electrical infrastructure could hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid, the report said.
“Any additional flooding would adversely affect large numbers of people already suffering from economic collapse, severe malnutrition and conflict,” the report added.
