Heavy rains and flash floods across several provinces in Afghanistan have killed at least 12 people and injured 11 others over the past two days, a Taliban disaster management official said on Thursday.
Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, spokesman for the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority, said the flooding affected at least 11 provinces, including Kapisa, Parwan, Daikundi, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Helmand, Badghis, Faryab, Badakhshan, Farah and Herat.
He said about 850 families were affected by the floods, while 219 families were displaced.
According to the agency, 274 houses were completely destroyed and another 518 were partially damaged. Floods also damaged eight mosques, 209 kilometres (130 miles) of roads, 11 shops and eight bridges, while more than 13,000 jeribs of agricultural land were affected.
Hamad said Farah province suffered particularly heavy damage, adding that assessments were still under way and efforts were continuing to assist affected families.
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, and aid agencies have warned that climate change, poor infrastructure and limited disaster preparedness have increased the impact of natural disasters on communities across the country.
