Afghanistan’s Meteorological Department on Monday issued another warning about the possibility of further heavy rain and flash floods across the country on Monday night and Tuesday.
The warning was issued for 21 provinces, including Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Kapisa, Parwan, Nangarhar, Kabul, Logar, Paktia, Khost, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, Bamiyan, Ghor, Paktika, Zabul, Daikundi, Uruzgan, and the northern parts of Helmand, Kandahar and Farah provinces.
The weather service warned that some areas could get as much as 40mm of rain.
Heavy rain and flash floods have caused widespread destruction over the past four days – claiming the lives of more than 40 people.
The worst hit areas on Monday appeared to be Paghman district in Kabul, and Parwan and Maidan Wardak provinces.
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.
He also 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.
