KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 21 people have lost their lives and five others were injured as flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, swept through Pusht-e-Koh district in Farah province, western Afghanistan, according to local Taliban authorities.
The incident took place in the village of Kujer on Tuesday afternoon when three families, who had been on an outing in the mountains, were caught off guard by torrential rains. The floodwaters surged unexpectedly, throwing them into a deep ravine and leading to the tragic deaths of 21 people, including women and children.
Since yesterday, much of Afghanistan has been experiencing heavy snowfall and intense rainfall. The Taliban’s meteorological department issued a warning about the likelihood of heavy snow, rain, and flash floods across several provinces, including Farah.
Afghanistan has been grappling with persistent extreme weather in recent years, with heavy snowfalls, rains and floods killing hundreds and leaving thousands more injured. These disasters have also devastated livestock and caused severe financial losses for an already struggling population.
In 2024, storms and flash floods primarily affecting eastern and northern Afghanistan led to hundreds of casualties. According to the UN, last year’s heavy rains and flooding in April and May killed at least 500 people, injured more than 2,000, and affected around 80,000 others. More than 10,000 homes were either destroyed or damaged, forcing thousands of families from their homes.
These incidents underscore the country’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters, with limited resources and infrastructure to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.
