At least 50 killed as flash floods sweep through Ghor

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): At least 50 people, including women and children, have been killed and thousands of residential houses destroyed by heavy floods in western Ghor province, an official said on Saturday.

Information and Culture Director Maulvi Abdul Hai Zaeem told Pajhwok Afghan News the flash floods hit parts of Ferozkoh and a number of districts on Friday.

He said at least 50 people, including women and children, lost their lives and thousands of residential houses were destroyed in the disaster.

The floods also washed away 2,500 shops, crops on thousands of acres of land, hundreds of water heads and a number of vehicles, he explained.

The official added rescue teams had been dispatched to the flood-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR) wrote on its X handle: “Flash floods swept through Dawlatyar, Shahrak, Tolak, Dolina and Sarjangal districts and Ferozkoh, causing heavy financial and life losses.”

The death toll is expected to rise as many people remain missing.

Zabiullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (IEA), extended sympathies to victims of floods in Ghor.

He wrote on his X handle that rescue teams had been sent to the affected areas. They had rescued many people, he added. The floods also shut the Ghor-Herat highway.

kk/mud