Flash floods destroyed five entire villages in the Andarab Valley after a large reservoir wall collapsed early Saturday, local residents said, leaving no trace of homes and sweeping away farmland, bridges, and livestock.
According to residents, the deluge began around 7 a.m. when the wall of a major water reservoir above the Taghank gorge in Pul-e-Hisar district gave way, unleashing water that surged through the valley. The villages of Shurabak, Upper and Lower Mad Naj Khil, Qishlaq-e-Kalan Taghank, and Darband-e-Tirgaran were completely washed away.
“There’s nothing left,” one resident said, describing the devastation that also destroyed six footbridges, four vehicle bridges, five mosques, and hundreds of hectares of farmland. Nearby villages like Seyedabad, Dahyak, and Nowbahar were also severely damaged.
Residents said the initial landslide-like surge gave people time to escape, preventing loss of life. Taliban officials conducted two helicopter rescue missions and distributed limited food aid, but humanitarian groups have yet to fully respond. The Red Crescent is currently conducting assessments but has not delivered assistance.
