KABUL: The death toll from ongoing heavy rains in Afghanistan continues to rise, with an additional 29 people reported dead over the past four days, according to the interim Afghan government’s disaster management department.
The relentless downpours, following an unusually dry winter that left the earth parched, have triggered flash flooding in most provinces, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.
Janan Sayeq, spokesman for the disaster management department, confirmed that the recent rains have killed 29 persons and injured seven others. The fatalities have been reported across ten provinces, with 72 houses damaged or destroyed and over 2,500 acres of agricultural land swept away.
This recent surge in casualties adds to an already staggering death toll from flooding this month, with official figures indicating that over 100 people have lost their lives. The deluge has also left more than 25,000 families in need of assistance.
Afghanistan, already grappling with the aftermath of decades of war, faces significant challenges in coping with extreme weather events. The United Nations has previously warned that the country is ill-equipped to handle such crises, particularly as climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
