Flash floods kill at least 50 in northern Afghanistan

Staff WritersAP
Camera IconDeadly flash floods and heavy seasonal rains have ravaged Afghanistan's Baghlan province. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

At least 50 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by heavy seasonal rains in northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province, a Taliban official says.

The floods also caused losses to homes and property in several districts, the provincial director of Natural Disaster Management in Baghlan Edayatullah Hamdard said.

He said the death toll was preliminary and "might rise as many people are missing".

The flash floods also hit the capital, Kabul, the Taliban's spokesman for the State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management Abdullah Janan Saiq said.

He said rescue teams carrying food and other aid had been sent to the affected areas.

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Saiq said he could not provide precise figures on casualties and damage as authorities were focused on the rescue operation.

In April, at least 70 people died from heavy rains and flash flooding in the country.

About 2000 homes, three mosques, and four schools were damaged in April.

Thousands of people require humanitarian assistance.

The flooding also damaged agricultural land and killed 2500 animals, Saiq said.

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