Extreme weather kills 110 people in 12 days in Afghanistan

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides across Afghanistan has risen to at least 110, with authorities warning of more severe weather to come as the country grapples with one of its worst natural disasters in recent months.

Powerful storms and heavy rainfall that began approximately 12 days ago have affected most of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the national Disaster Management Authority reported Monday. The last 24 hours alone claimed 11 lives and injured six people, while seven others remain missing after being swept away by floodwaters.

The catastrophic weather events have injured 160 people since they began and completely destroyed nearly 1,000 homes. Another 4,155 residences have suffered partial damage, displacing thousands of families across the war-ravaged nation.

In western Herat province, the Defense Ministry deployed helicopter rescue operations, successfully airlifting two individuals to safety after they became stranded by rising waters. Such rescue efforts highlight the severity of the situation as authorities race to reach isolated communities.

Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with more than 325 kilometers (200 miles) of roads destroyed. The destruction has severed critical transportation links, isolating numerous communities and complicating relief efforts. Agricultural lands, irrigation canals, and freshwater wells have also sustained significant damage, threatening long-term food security in a country already facing acute humanitarian challenges.

Officials cautioned that these figures remain preliminary, suggesting the full extent of the disaster may be even greater than currently reported.

The crisis has prompted authorities to issue widespread weather warnings for Tuesday across nearly the entire country. Citizens have been urged to avoid rivers and flood-prone areas as meteorologists predict additional rainfall that could exacerbate the already dire situation.

Two major highways have been rendered impassable for days due to landslides and flooding. The vital Kabul to Jalalabad highway, which serves as the main route connecting the capital to the Pakistani border and eastern Afghan provinces, has been closed since last Thursday. Similarly, the road linking Jalalabad to Kunar and Nuristan provinces in the northeast has been blocked since Sunday by rockfalls, forcing travelers to take lengthy detours through already treacherous terrain.

This disaster follows a pattern of extreme weather events that have repeatedly struck Afghanistan in recent years. Earlier in 2024, heavy snowfall and flash floods claimed dozens of lives across the country. Last spring proved particularly devastating, with more than 300 people perishing in flash floods.

Afghanistan’s vulnerability to such catastrophes stems from a combination of factors, including its mountainous topography, aging or inadequate infrastructure, and limited disaster response capabilities. Decades of conflict have further eroded the nation’s resilience to natural disasters.

Climate experts have noted that while seasonal flooding is common in Afghanistan, the intensity and frequency of these events have increased in recent years, potentially signaling the impacts of climate change on the region. The country’s predominantly rural population, many living in flood-prone valleys or on unstable hillsides, face particular risk.

The current disaster unfolds against the backdrop of an already severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where international aid has been significantly reduced since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. This combination of factors creates additional challenges for relief efforts and long-term recovery.

As rescue operations continue and communities begin the difficult process of rebuilding, authorities remain vigilant about the possibility of additional flooding in the days ahead.