KABUL, Afghanistan — The death toll from extreme weather causing widespread flooding and landslides across Afghanistan has risen to at least 110, with seven people still missing, authorities reported Monday. Heavy rain and storms began around 12 days ago, affecting most of the country’s 34 provinces.
the Disaster Management Authority said that in the past 24 hours alone, 11 people died and six were injured. Seven others are reported missing, believed to have been swept away by floodwaters. Overall, the past 12 days of flooding, landslides, and lightning strikes have killed 110 people and injured 160.
Damage to infrastructure has been severe: 958 homes were completely destroyed, 4,155 suffered partial damage, and over 325 kilometers (200 miles) of roads have been washed out. Businesses, farmland, irrigation canals, and freshwater wells have also been damaged, affecting 6,122 families.
The Defense Ministry said helicopters were used to rescue two people stranded by floodwaters in Herat province. Authorities issued weather warnings for Tuesday, urging residents to stay away from rivers and flood-prone areas.
Major highways remain closed due to landslides and flooding, including the Kabul–Jalalabad highway, the main route linking the capital to the Pakistani border, and the road from Jalalabad northeast to Kunar and Nuristan provinces.
Afghanistan frequently experiences deadly flash floods during heavy rain and snow, with 2024’s spring floods claiming more than 300 lives.
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