KABUL, Afghanistan — Officials in Afghanistan reported Monday that deadly weather conditions sweeping across multiple regions have claimed 28 lives and left 49 others wounded during a four-day period of destruction.
According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, intense storms accompanied by torrential rains have triggered devastating floods, dangerous landslides, and deadly lightning across numerous provinces. Officials warned the casualty numbers may climb as additional information emerges from affected areas.
The destructive weather pattern has completely demolished 130 residential structures and caused significant damage to an additional 436 homes, disaster management officials reported. Beyond the human toll, the storms have killed over 240 livestock, eliminated 93 kilometers (58 miles) of roadways, and devastated irrigation systems along with farmland. Authorities estimate 1,130 families have experienced impacts from the severe conditions.
This latest disaster follows similar deadly weather events from earlier in the year, when heavy snowfall and sudden flooding claimed numerous lives throughout the nation.
The country faces extreme susceptibility to harsh weather conditions, where snow accumulation and intense rainfall frequently spawn flash floods that can kill dozens or even hundreds at once. Spring flooding alone killed more than 300 people in 2024.
Years of ongoing warfare, combined with inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, widespread deforestation, and worsening climate change effects have made such disasters more devastating. Rural communities suffer disproportionately, as many residences constructed from mud provide minimal defense against sudden flooding or heavy snow accumulation.
