Flash floods in at least eight provinces of Afghanistan have claimed the lives of more than 40 people over the past three days, with the Paghman district in the west of the capital city, Kabul, being severely affected.
Taliban spokesmen have provided varying figures, but the Taliban-run National Disasters Management Authority confirmed that the death toll stands at 31, with 41 individuals still reported missing and 74 others injured due to the floods that occurred between July 20 and July 23.
In addition to the overall toll, the Taliban governor’s office in Maidan Wardak province announced on Sunday that the death toll from the floods in that province alone has reached 30, with 15 others injured.
The Taliban-controlled National Television reported that in the Arghandi area of Paghman district in Kabul, 10 people were killed, 20 injured, and numerous houses and farmlands were destroyed.
Shafiullah Rahimi, a Taliban spokesman for the authority, conveyed the grim situation at a press conference on Sunday, highlighting that the floods had affected multiple provinces, including Maidan Wardak, Kabul, Paktia, Ghazni, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, and Nangarhar.
Rahimi also shed light on the devastating impact on property and livelihoods, stating that 604 residential houses were either completely or partially destroyed, more than 250 livestock perished, and hundreds of acres of agricultural land suffered significant crop losses.
Moreover, he revealed that over the last four months, Afghanistan has faced the brunt of natural disasters, resulting in the loss of 214 lives and injuries to 320 others.
The floods have caused severe disruptions to homes and livelihoods, leaving a stark toll on the country. A total of 3,115 residential houses have been completely or partially destroyed, 3,800 livestock fatalities were recorded, and more than 20,000 acres of agricultural land and orchards have been damaged.
