Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – At least 33 people have been killed and 27 injured in Afghanistan after three days of heavy rains triggered devastating flash floods across the country. The government’s disaster management department reported that most casualties were caused by roof collapses, with approximately 600 houses damaged or destroyed. The floods also killed 200 livestock, wiped out nearly 600 kilometres of roads, and submerged around 800 hectares of agricultural land, dealing a severe blow to farmers already struggling after an unusually dry winter.
Twenty of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces were affected, with western Farah, Herat, southern Zabul, and Kandahar among the hardest hit. Authorities have warned that more rain is expected in the coming days, raising fears of further damage and loss of life.
The disaster highlights the growing vulnerability of Afghanistan to extreme weather events, which scientists link to climate change. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the country has faced a sharp reduction in foreign aid, severely hampering its ability to respond to natural disasters. Earlier this year, at least 25 people died in a landslide following heavy snowfall, while around 60 were killed during a three-week period of extreme weather in March.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is experiencing major swings in extreme weather conditions, exacerbated by decades of conflict and underdevelopment. As one of the nations least prepared to face climate change, Afghanistan remains acutely vulnerable to the escalating impacts of global warming.
