Flash flooding has killed at least 50 people in western Afghanistan, provincial police reported on Saturday.
Residents in Ghor province were forced to seek safety on higher ground just minutes before the devastating floodwaters arrived.
The floods, which struck on Friday, destroyed around 2,000 houses and damaged thousands more homes and businesses, according to Ghor police spokesman Abdul Rahman Badri.
This recent disaster follows flash floods on May 10 in northern Baghlan province, which also resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.
“Fifty residents of Ghor province were killed by the floods on Friday and several others are missing,” Badri said. “These terrible floods have also killed thousands of cattle and destroyed hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, bridges, culverts, and thousands of trees.”
Residents described harrowing escapes and widespread devastation. Zahir Zahid from Firozkoh district recounted how he and his family narrowly escaped after urgent warnings. “Within five minutes of our escape, a huge and horrible flash flood came and washed away everything. I watched the flood destroy my house with my own eyes,” he said.
Another resident, Sherzai, shared that despite some annual flooding, this event was unprecedented in its severity. “We thought it would be like the ones in the past, but it was very strong. It took away everything in our house; nothing is left.”
Obaidullah Muradian, head of the province’s disaster management department, described the situation as an “emergency” and highlighted the urgent need for shelter, food, and water. “The streets of Chaghcharan, the provincial capital, are full of mud,” he added.
Broader Impact and Vulnerability
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Taliban officials noted that over 300 people had died from floods earlier in May, which left extensive mud and debris. The destruction of infrastructure has hampered rescue efforts, and authorities warn that death tolls may rise.
Afghanistan, exceptionally vulnerable to flooding, has seen above-average rainfall this spring.
Mohammad Assem Mayar, a water resource management expert, noted that from mid-April to early May, flash flooding had already claimed around 100 lives in 10 provinces.
Farmland has been heavily impacted, threatening the livelihoods of 80% of the population who depend on agriculture.
The recent floods come after a prolonged drought, compounding the challenges in a nation severely impacted by climate change and ongoing conflict. The WFP has warned that the floods exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation.
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, emphasized the need for comprehensive support.
“I urge donors to provide more funds for humanitarian support and also much-needed climate action to leave no one behind in Afghanistan,” he stated on social media.
