Severe rainfall in Afghanistan over the past five days has resulted in approximately 70 fatalities, according to the government’s disaster management department.
The country faced an exceptionally dry winter, leading to parched land that worsened the impact of spring downpours, causing flash floods across numerous provinces.
Disaster management spokesperson Janan Sayeq reported 56 injuries, over 2,600 damaged or destroyed houses, and 95,000 acres of farmland washed away.
Last week, Sayeq had initially reported a lower death toll, attributing most fatalities to roof collapses caused by heavy rains.
Afghanistan’s neighbor, Pakistan, has also experienced significant storm-related casualties due to the increased rate of rainfall.
The United Nations has previously warned about Afghanistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change.
With decades of war having weakened infrastructure and preparedness, the country faces heightened risks from these severe weather occurrences.
Earlier this year, deadly incidents such as a landslide triggered by heavy snowfall in February and a series of precipitation-related fatalities in March underscored the ongoing threat posed by extreme weather in Afghanistan.
