KABUL: Afghanistan’s first heavy rain and snowfall of the season ended a prolonged drought but triggered deadly flash floods across the country, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others, officials said.
A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said five of the victims died when a house roof collapsed in the Kabakan district of Herat province. Two children were among the dead.
Heavy rain and flooding disrupted daily life in central, northern, southern and western regions. The floods damaged infrastructure, killed livestock and affected nearly 1,800 families.
The disaster worsened conditions for already vulnerable urban and rural communities.
The National Disaster Management Authority deployed assessment teams to the worst-hit areas. Surveys are under way to determine urgent relief needs.
Decades of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation and the impacts of climate change have intensified the effects of natural disasters. The risk is highest in remote areas where most homes are made of mud and offer little protection against sudden floods.
The United Nations and other aid agencies warned this week that Afghanistan will remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026.
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The UN and its partners have appealed for $1.7 billion to provide emergency assistance to nearly 18 million people across the country.
