Since March, flash flooding and landslides in Afghanistan have claimed lives and damaged or destroyed homes, crops and other vital infrastructure. The past winter was unusually dry, leaving the ground too hard to absorb the rain when it came – resulting in sudden flooding. Alongside this, unseasonably warm temperatures have melted snow on the mountains too early and too quickly, swelling rivers which have flooded villages.
These erratic weather patterns are becoming more common and more destructive as the effects of the climate crisis on our planet become clearer and more severe.
More floods in April
In April, heavy rains caused flash floods across the central, central highlands, northern, northeastern, southern and western regions of Afghanistan. The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock reported that, in one region, in the space of only two days, floods destroyed 16,525 acres of agricultural land, and 13,524 metres of canals. They estimated that the number of livestock lost was 1,144.
Flash flooding in May
Then, this month, on 10 and 11 May, northeastern Afghanistan was once again overwhelmed by heavy rainfall and flash flooding. This time the floods affected 21 districts across three provinces. At least 180 people died, many more were injured, and close to 9,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
The disaster also caused significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural land. In Baghlan Province alone, at least six schools, 50 bridges and 30 dams used to generate electricity were destroyed. Farmers lost 10,200 acres of orchards and 2,260 livestock.
Further flooding on 17 and 18 May caused more deaths and devastation in the northern and western regions of Afghanistan.
