ASIA

50 dead in heavy rain, floods in central Afghanistan, says official

Anjali

Kabul: A recent heavy rain and flooding in central Afghanistan have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people, as confirmed by Mawlawi Abdul Hai Zaeem, the Head of the Information Department for the central Ghor province. The rain, which began on Friday, has caused unknown injuries and severed many crucial roads in the region. Zaeem reported that the severe weather conditions led to the complete destruction of 2,000 houses, partial damage to 4,000 more, and submerged over 2,000 shops in the provincial capital, Feroz-Koh.

The previous week saw flash floods caused by heavy rains ravage villages in northern Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic loss of 315 lives and leaving over 1,600 individuals injured, according to authorities. Furthermore, a helicopter from the Afghan air force crashed on Wednesday due to technical problems while attempting to retrieve the bodies of individuals who had fallen into a river in Ghor province.

This incident led to the death of one person and injuries to 12 others, as reported by the country's defense ministry. Afghanistan faces frequent natural disasters, with the United Nations identifying it as one of the countries most at risk from climate change. The nation has encountered challenges in securing aid following the Taliban's assumption of power after foreign forces exited the country in 2021.

The reduction in development aid, which previously supported government finances, has exacerbated the situation. The aid deficit has deepened over the years as foreign governments address other global crises and express disapproval of the Taliban's restrictions on Afghan women.