“Hundreds” dead in flash floods in northern Afghanistan

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At least 200 people have died and hundreds have been injured in flash floods following seasonal rains in northern Afghanistan, the United Nations said.

According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, the floods also damaged homes and properties in Afghanistan’s Baghlan province.

In Baghlan’s Jadid district alone, around 1,500 houses were either damaged or completely destroyed and “more than 100 people” died, according to to AFP by an emergency responder from the International Organization for Migration, citing data from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.

A senior Taliban official also confirmed on Saturday that “hundreds” had been killed in the floods. However, he did not give any specific figures.

“Regrettably, hundreds of our fellow citizens have fallen victim to these catastrophic floods, while a significant number have suffered injuries. “In addition, the flood has caused extensive devastation to residential properties, resulting in significant financial losses,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X.

Mr. Mujahid explained that Badakhshan, Baghlan, Ghor and Herat provinces were most affected by the floods. He further noted that the widespread destruction had resulted in “significant financial losses.”

Previous reports put the death toll at around 50.

Rescue teams are helping bring food and other supplies to flood-affected areas in over five districts that include the capital Kabul, said Abdullah Janan Saiq, the Taliban spokesman at the State Ministry of Natural Disaster Management.

The Taliban said the estimated death toll “could rise as many people are missing.”

“Speedily deploy all available resources for the rescue operations, evacuation of the deceased and medical treatment of the injured…We also call on our fellow citizens to provide all possible assistance to the affected victims of this natural disaster,” the spokesperson added.

The Taliban said residents were unprepared for the sudden surge of water as heavy seasonal rains caused flooding.

“The Interior Ministry has sent teams and helicopters to the area, but due to the lack of night vision devices in the helicopters, the operation may not be successful,” said Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee.

The flash flood followed heavy rains last month that killed at least 70 people and over 2,500 animals and also damaged agricultural land, Mr. Saiq said.

It caused damage to 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools, leaving thousands of people in need of humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations warned last year that Afghanistan was experiencing large “fluctuations in extreme weather conditions.”

Although Afghanistan produces only 0.06 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts say it ranks as the sixth country most affected by climate change.

Additional reporting with agencies