33 killed, 27 wounded as floods unleash havoc nationwide

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 33 people have been killed, 27 others wounded and 600 residential houses were partially or completely destroyed in recent flash flood triggered by heavy rains across the country, the State Ministry for Natural Disasters Management said on Sunday.

The ministry said the fatalities occurred in Badghis, Uruzgan, Farah, Kandahar, Takhar, Zabul, Parwan, Nangarhar, Helmand, Kabul, Khost, Daikundi, Kunar, Kapisa, Panjsher, Paktia, Paktika. Logar, Laghman and Herat provinces.

Mullah Jan Saiq, spokesman for the ministry, told reporters in Kabul: “The rain-induced flash floods caused financial and life losses and destroyed public welfare places since last Friday.”

He said initial information suggest 33 people had been killed, 27 others wounded and 606 residential houses partially damaged or completely destroyed.

He added the flash floods also washed away crops on 1,000 acres of land and 85 kilometers of roads in the country.

About 200 animals perished in flooding and caused financial losses to 1,000 families, he explained. He said most casualties occurred due to roof collapse incidents.

About assistance to the affected families, Saiq said about 22,851 families had so far been assisted in cooperation with partner organizations this month and the process continued.

He asked the people to stay away from rivers and to inform residents of downstream areas about flooded rivers in order to prevent human casualties.

kk/ma

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