At least 50 killed as flash floods sweep through Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): At least 50 people have been killed as a result of flash floods in northern Baghlan province, an official said on Saturday.

Hidayatullah Hamdard, director of the Natural Disaster Management Authority, told Pajhwok Afghan News the floods swept through Nahrin, Borki and Baghlan-i-Markazi districts late on Friday.

He confirmed 50 dead bodies, including women and children, had been taken to the main provincial hospital from the affected areas.

Rescue operations are ongoing and the death toll is expected to rise, according to the official, who said scores of people had been missing.

Meanwhile, the BBC quoted Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani as saying the fatalities occurred in Borka district.

Reuters news agency reported helicopters had been sent to the province but the operation might not succeed due to a shortage of night vision lights.

kk/mud