KABUL, Afghanistan — At least nine people, including three children, were killed and nine others injured after heavy rainfall and flash floods swept through Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, Taliban officials said Wednesday.
According to the Taliban’s police command in Kandahar, the flooding caused significant damage in parts of the city’s fifth, sixth, and seventh districts, as well as in the Maiwand, Zhari, and Shah Wali Kot districts.
Taliban reported that the floods also destroyed six acres of farmland and damaged six vehicles.
The latest fatalities add to a growing toll from extreme weather in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, at least 23 people were killed and 44 others injured in floods in Farah province, while Helmand also reported casualties.
Former President Hamid Karzai called for urgent assistance for flood victims, urging NGOs and local businesses to step in and provide aid.
Afghanistan also suffered severe flooding throughout last year, with experts warning that the country’s fragile infrastructure and lack of disaster preparedness are exacerbating the crisis.
