KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a fresh warning that seasonal monsoon rains pose a moderate to high risk of sudden flash floods in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan between July 13 and 15.
Alerted areas include Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Khost, Paktika, Paktia, and Logar, with the threat potentially spreading into parts of central and northeastern provinces.
Heavy storms hit Laghman and Nangarhar on Saturday, forcing roads to close across multiple districts, demolishing homes and farmland, and killing at least one person while injuring eight, according to Taliban-appointed officials.
Khair Mohammad Ghazi, head of Laghman’s disaster management office, said the deluge cut off most villages and damaged vital irrigation systems. In Nangarhar’s capital, Jalalabad, Quraishi Badlon, spokesman for the Taliban’s Information and Culture Directorate, reported widespread destruction across urban neighborhoods and rural zones.
Afghanistan’s meteorological department has now forecast heavy rainfall and flood risk in 19 provinces today. Climate scientists stress that flash flooding has intensified in recent years due to climate change.
Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to abrupt and intense downpours that often overwhelm fragile drainage infrastructure and trigger landslides.
The country’s vulnerability to sudden flooding is well-documented. In 2022, torrential rains killed over 600 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Flash floods and glacial lake outbursts are recurring threats in the Hindu Kush region.
FAO noted that the combination of extreme weather and ongoing conflict has left many rural areas exposed. Eroded soil and degraded vegetation reduce floodwater absorption, while limited early-warning systems and weak infrastructure hamper disaster response.
