Flash flooding in northern Afghanistan has claimed hundreds of lives, with concerns that the death toll may escalate due to further storms in the region.
Taliban officials report at least 150 fatalities, while the World Food Programme indicates that the toll exceeds 300 following heavy rainfall in five districts of Baghlan province on Friday night.
Social media images depict torrents of water engulfing houses in numerous villages, leaving widespread devastation.
The country has experienced unusually intense rainfall in recent weeks, resulting in numerous flood-related fatalities since mid-April.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s interior ministry, informed the BBC of at least 131 deaths in Baghlan province and 20 in Takhar.
Rana Deraz, a communications officer for the UN’s World Food Programme, informed the AFP news agency of 311 fatalities in Baghlan, along with the destruction of 2,011 houses and damage to 2,800 more. Additionally, three mosques and four schools were impacted.
Many casualties occurred in the Borka district of Baghlan province, where over 200 individuals were trapped in their homes.
Severe damage is also reported in the provinces of Badakhshan, Ghor, and western Herat.
Local official Hedayatullah Hamdard told AFP news agency emergency personnel including the army were “searching for any possible victims under the mud and rubble”.
Some families who lost their homes received tents, blankets, and food, according to the official.
The primary road linking Kabul to northern Afghanistan has been shut down.
Last month’s flooding in the west resulted in numerous deaths and left thousands in need of humanitarian assistance.
Flash flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds the capacity of drainage systems.
Experts note that a relatively dry winter has hampered the soil’s ability to absorb rainwater, leading to extensive flooding of farmland.
Torrential rain and flooding claim lives annually in Afghanistan, particularly affecting poorly constructed homes in remote rural areas.
Afghanistan ranks among the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts.
Decades of warfare, culminating in the 2021 Taliban resurgence following the withdrawal of a US-led coalition, have left Afghanistan one of the world’s poorest countries.
Various factors contribute to flooding, but climate change-induced warming increases the likelihood of extreme rainfall.
Global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.1°C since the onset of the industrial era, with further increases projected unless governments worldwide enact significant emissions reductions.