In July 2023, Afghanistan experienced severe flooding resulting from heavy seasonal rainfall, leading to the loss of lives and dozens of missing persons over a three-day period. The flash floods were triggered by intense rains affecting seven provinces in the country, causing significant damage to residential houses and hundreds of acres of agricultural lands. The highest number of casualties occurred in the western Kabul and Maidan Wardak provinces.[1][2][3]
| Date | July 2023 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 days |
| Location | Seven provinces of Afghanistan |
| Cause | Heavy seasonal rain |
| Deaths | At least 31 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 74 |
| Missing | At least 41 |
| Property damage | A total of 606 residential houses were partially or completely damaged, and numerous acres of agricultural lands were affected by the floods. |
Agricultural land encompassing hundreds of square miles was severely damaged and washed away by the floods. Additionally, the floods caused the closure of the highway connecting Kabul and the central Bamiyan province.[3]
Shafiullah Rahimi, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, stated that 74 people were injured and at least 41 remain missing. Personnel from various government entities, including the ministries of defense, public welfare, and the Red Crescent, as well as provincial and other officials, responded to the flood-affected areas to conduct rescue operations.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Heavy rains in Afghanistan and Pakistan unleash flash floods that killed dozens of people". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ a b Tawfeeq, Ehsan Popalzai,Mohammed (23 July 2023). "Dozens swept away in flash floods in Afghanistan". CNN.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Dozens killed as flash floods hit Afghanistan and Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com.