Over 200 dead in Afghanistan flash floods within a day

Kabul: The devastating toll of flash floods in northern Afghanistan has reached over 200 casualties in a single province, as reported by the United Nations.

The deluge, triggered by heavy rains on Friday, wreaked havoc in Baghlan province, resulting in extensive loss of life and property.

"More than 200 people were killed and thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged in Baghlan province when heavy rains on Friday sparked massive flooding," said the UN's International Organization for Migration to AFP.

In Baghlani Jadid district, the situation was dire, with up to 1,500 homes either damaged or razed, leading to a death toll surpassing 100, according to an IOM emergency response lead, citing statistics from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.

The Taliban government confirmed the devastation, acknowledging the loss of lives. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, "Hundreds of our fellow citizens have succumbed to these calamitous floods," in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, without specifying the exact numbers of fatalities and injuries, although he informed AFP that dozens had died.

The disaster wasn't confined to Baghlan province alone. Flash floods swept through multiple provinces, with Takhar province in the north reporting 20 deaths on Saturday.

Rains on Friday inflicted heavy damage on northeastern Badakhshan province, central Ghor province, and western Herat, exacerbating the crisis.

The Afghan defence ministry swiftly mobilized emergency personnel to the affected regions, deploying them for the rescue and relief operations targeting the injured and stranded individuals.

Afghanistan's susceptibility to such natural calamities is exacerbated by its climatic vulnerability. The nation, grappling with the aftermath of four decades of conflict, ranks among the poorest globally and is considered ill-prepared to confront the ramifications of climate change.