BAGHLAN, AFGHANISTAN–The Northern portion of Afghanistan were hit by severe flash flooding brought about by the recent heavy rainfalls in the area, Friday.
Reports stated that heavy rainfalls poured at five districts in Baghlan province, with the floods seeping through and damaging several villages in the area, leaving at least 60 dead and more than 100 injured as of Friday and early Saturday reports.
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry Spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said that the individuals who died from the flooding incident mostly came from the Borka district in Baghlan province, with more than 200 got trapped inside their homes.
In line with this, officials warned that the death toll may still rise with dozens of people still missing from the severe flooding.
Meanwhile, officials stated that the army and emergency personnel were now deployed and are conducting searching operations to possible victims under the mud and rubble, while basic relief aids like tents, blankets, and food were provided to the displaced families.
“The Ministry of Interior has sent teams and helicopters to the area, but due to a shortage of night vision lights in helicopters, the operation may not be successful,” Qaniee said in an interview of Reuters.
As of the latest reports, the main road connecting Kabul and northern Afghanistan is closed at the present, about 2,000 households, three mosques, and four schools were damaged.
Afghanistan is among the globe’s most at risk nation from climate change effects, with unusually heavy rainfalls striking the country over the last few weeks, resulting to deaths due to flooding.