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Afghanistan's Deadly Deluge: 17 Killed as Rains End Drought, Trigger Floods

Heavy rains and snowfall in Afghanistan have ended a prolonged drought but triggered deadly flash floods, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others. The floods have damaged infrastructure, killed livestock, and impacted approximately 1,800 families, worsening conditions in vulnerable communities. Decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, and climate change have amplified the disaster's impact, particularly in remote areas with mud-brick homes. The United Nations warns Afghanistan will remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crises into 2026.

Key Points: Afghanistan Floods Kill 17, Injure 11 After Heavy Rains

  • Family of 5 killed in roof collapse
  • 1,800 families affected by floods
  • Infrastructure damaged, livestock killed
  • Climate change and conflict amplify disaster impact
2 min read

Heavy rain, snowfall kill 17, injure 11 in Afghanistan

Heavy rain and snowfall in Afghanistan have killed 17 people, injured 11, and damaged infrastructure, affecting 1,800 families amid flash flooding.

"The floods damaged infrastructure, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families... - ANDMA Spokesperson"

Kabul, January 2

Heavy rains and snowfall in Afghanistan have ended a prolonged dry spell but triggered flash floods in several areas, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others, Al Jazeera reported, quoting the concerned authorities.

The dead included five members of a family whose roof collapsed on Thursday in Kabkan, a district in Herat province, Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor, said. Two of the victims were children.

Most of the casualties have occurred since Monday in districts hit by flooding, and the severe weather also disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions, according to Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), as per Al Jazeera.

Hammad said the floods damaged infrastructure, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families, worsening conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities.

He added that the agency has sent assessment teams to the worst-affected areas, with surveys ongoing to determine further needs.

A video clip accessed by Al Jazeera on X showed a truck overturning due to flash flooding on Afghanistan's Herat-Kandahar highway near Dasht-e Bakwa. Another video showed several people desperately trying to escape after their bus overturned in a strong flood current.

Afghanistan, like neighbouring Pakistan and India, is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, particularly flash floods following seasonal rains, as per Al Jazeera.

Decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, deforestation and the intensifying effects of climate change have amplified the impact of such disasters, especially in remote areas where many homes are made of mud and offer limited protection.

In August, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Afghanistan near its border with Pakistan, killing more than 1,400 people, as per Al Jazeera.

Efforts to rescue people affected by the earthquake were hindered because of flash floods in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The United Nations and other aid agencies this week warned that Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crises in 2026, as per Al Jazeera.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Very sad news. The article rightly points out poor infrastructure makes it worse. In our hilly states like Uttarakhand, we see the same pattern. Disaster management needs to be a priority for all SAARC nations.
A
Aman W
Nature shows no mercy. After years of drought, this happens. It's a reminder for us in India too—our cities flood with just a few hours of rain. We need better planning.
S
Sarah B
The loss of life is tragic. While the immediate need is aid, the long-term solution has to involve building climate-resilient homes and infrastructure. This is a shared challenge for the whole subcontinent.
V
Vikram M
My thoughts are with the families. A whole family lost under a collapsed roof... it's too much. India has experience with disaster response teams like NDRF. Maybe knowledge sharing can help?
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while we express sympathy, we must also look at our own backyard. Our media coverage of disasters in neighbouring countries is often minimal unless there's a political angle. Human suffering should be the headline, always.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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