Deadly floods and landslides in Afghanistan kill 17 and injure 26 within 24 hours, damaging homes, roads, and farmland. Authorities warn of further rainfall, raising fears of escalating disaster across vulnerable provinces.
At least 17 people have been killed and 26 others injured in devastating rain-related incidents across Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, according to officials from the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The casualties come amid widespread destruction triggered by heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, and lightning strikes affecting multiple provinces.
The NDMA spokesperson, Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, confirmed on Sunday that severe weather conditions had battered several regions, including Parwan, Daykundi, Wardak, and Logar. The sudden downpour unleashed flash floods that swept through villages, destroying infrastructure and endangering lives in already vulnerable communities.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least 147 houses have been damaged, while nearly 80 kilometers of roads have been washed away, severely disrupting transportation and rescue operations. Additionally, the floods inundated around 582 acres of agricultural land, along with 31 water canals and irrigation systems, dealing a heavy blow to rural livelihoods dependent on farming.
Hammad emphasized that these figures remain initial estimates, as assessment teams continue to survey the affected areas. “The situation is still evolving, and casualty numbers may rise as more remote regions are reached,” he warned.
Meteorological authorities have issued fresh alerts predicting continued rainfall in the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous and flood-prone regions. The warning has heightened fears of a worsening humanitarian situation as emergency responders struggle to reach isolated communities.
This latest disaster follows a series of extreme weather events that have repeatedly struck Afghanistan in recent months. Earlier this year, on January 22, at least 11 people lost their lives and three others were injured due to heavy snowfall and rainstorms affecting provinces such as Kandahar, Jawzjan, Faryab, and Bamiyan. Those storms also destroyed nine homes, killed 530 livestock, and blocked key roads, complicating relief efforts.
In another incident last October, flash floods impacted 721 families across Kabul, Laghman, and Kapisa provinces. Thousands of acres of farmland were destroyed, and significant losses were reported in the agricultural sector, including damage to fruit farms and poultry operations.
Experts warn that the increasing frequency of such disasters highlights the growing impact of climate variability on Afghanistan, where fragile infrastructure and limited disaster preparedness exacerbate the risks. Rural communities, in particular, remain highly exposed due to their dependence on agriculture and lack of resilient housing.
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Authorities have urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and follow safety advisories as emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations. With more rainfall expected, the country faces an urgent need for coordinated disaster response and long-term mitigation strategies to prevent further loss of life and property.
