Heavy rainfall and snowfall across Afghanistan have brought an end to a prolonged dry spell but have also triggered deadly flash floods, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others, according to local authorities.
Among the victims were five members of the same family, including two children, who died when the roof of their home collapsed on Thursday in Kabkan district, Herat province, said Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor.
Most casualties have been reported since Monday in flood-hit districts, while the severe weather has disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions of the country, according to Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA).
Floodwaters have damaged critical infrastructure, killed livestock, and affected around 1,800 families, further worsening conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities. ANDMA has deployed assessment teams to the worst-affected areas, with surveys still ongoing to identify additional needs.
Videos shared on social media showed vehicles and buses overturning in strong flood currents, including incidents along the Herat–Kandahar highway.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, particularly flash floods following seasonal rains. Years of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation, and the growing impacts of climate change have significantly increased the severity of such disasters, especially in remote areas where many homes are built from mud and offer little protection.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned that Afghanistan is likely to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, with millions in urgent need of assistance.
