Afghanistan storms leave 77 dead, hundreds injured as floods and landslides devastate homes and roads
Heavy rain and storms have caused widespread flooding, landslides, and lightning strikes across Afghanistan, killing 77 people and injuring 137 over the past 10 days, officials reported Saturday. Authorities have warned residents to avoid riverbanks and areas prone to flooding as more rain is expected in the coming days.
This year, Afghanistan has already faced numerous extreme weather events, with heavy snowfall and flash floods earlier, leaving dozens dead. Recent flooding has destroyed 793 homes and damaged another 2,673, while landslides and floods have wiped out about 337 kilometers (210 miles) of roads. Agricultural land, businesses, water wells, and irrigation systems have also been affected, impacting more than 5,800 families nationwide.
Critical highways connecting Kabul to other provinces have been blocked by flooding, landslides, and rockfalls, forcing travelers to take long detours. The Kabul-Jalalabad highway, which links the capital to eastern provinces and the Pakistani border, was closed Thursday, and crews are working to reopen it. Flooding has also shut the Salang Pass, a key mountain route connecting Kabul to northern cities such as Kunduz and Mazar-e-Sharif.
Experts note that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, with snow and heavy rain regularly triggering deadly flash floods. In spring 2024 alone, over 300 people died in similar floods, underscoring the ongoing threat to communities across the country.
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