Rescue teams face problems as floods death toll surges

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): As death toll from the devastated recent floods in north and northwestern provinces surged to 135 fatalities, rescue teams on Wednesday were facing mounting problems to pull out more dead and wounded buried under debris.

Recent flash floods left 43 people dead in Faryab, 10 in Sar-i-Pul and eight in Badghis, provincial officials said.

At least 69 people were also killed and dozens others, including women and children still missing in Jawzjan, provincial police chief, Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said Afghan army helicopters had been evacuating people to safer areas on higher ground. Some of the displaced had taken refuge in Madrassas while others were living under the open sky.

He said rescue teams were facing problems because some areas were inaccessible, saying it may take some time yet until a clear picture of the full extent of the damage is known.

Abdul Shakoor, an aid worker said, rescue teams were searching for bodies of missing persons. Aid agencies had started providing aid to 2,000 flood affected families.

However, local officials said a total 5,000 families had been affected by the floods and there was immediate assistance of food, blanket and medicine.

nh/rm