KABUL: Local officials said on Saturday that as many as 50 people have been killed in recent flash floods in Western Afghanistan. The floods, which struck on Friday, wreaked havoc by destroying approximately 2,000 homes and causing extensive damage to thousands more residences and businesses, police spokesman Abdul Rahman Badri said.
The region, experiencing above-average rainfall this spring, witnessed another calamitous flooding event just days after flash floods ravaged northern Baghlan province on May 10, leaving hundreds missing and families still grappling with the aftermath.
Badri described the harrowing scene, noting the loss of lives and property: “Fifty residents of Ghor province were killed by the floods on Friday and a number of others are missing.” He further detailed the widespread destruction caused by the floods, including the loss of livestock, damage to agricultural land, infrastructure, and natural vegetation.
Survivor accounts underscore the terrifying speed and force of the floods. Zahir Zahid, a resident of Firozkoh district, recounted how he and his family narrowly escaped to higher ground upon hearing warnings signaled by aerial firing and urgent mosque loudspeaker announcements. “Within five minutes of our escape, a huge and horrible flash flood came and washed away everything,” he shared, describing the heart-wrenching scene of homes being swept away.
The devastation is profound, with entire communities left in ruins. Muradian, the head of the province’s disaster management department, emphasized the urgent need for assistance, describing the situation as an “emergency.” Multiple districts, including the capital Chaghcharan, have been severely affected, with streets submerged in mud.
Victims are in desperate need of basic necessities such as shelter, food, and clean water. The scale of the disaster underscores the critical importance of rapid and comprehensive response efforts to mitigate further suffering and aid in the recovery of affected communities.
