Flash floods in north Afghanistan claim 38 lives

At least 38 people have lost their lives due to heavy rains accompanied by flash floods in northern parts of Afghanistan, officials say.

Afghan officials said on Monday that the deaths were reported in the country’s northern provinces of Takhar, Badghis and Samangan during flash floods that began Sunday night.

The director of natural disasters in Takhar Province said 13 people, including children, died in the districts of Kalafgan and Bangi.

Abdul Razaq Zinda also said that scores of houses, especially mud-brick structures, were destroyed during the heavy rain.

In Badghis Province, a local police spokesman said 19 people died in Muqur district.

Flash waters killed six people, three women and three children, and damaged about 20 houses and at least five acres of agricultural land in Samangan Province.

Local officials noted that the main transportation routes have been blocked as a result of the flooding.

Heavy rainfall also struck the Afghan capital, Kabul, but no major damage has been reported.

SS