Afghanistan flash floods leave 17 dead including women, children

At least 17 people, including women and children, have been killed after flash floods swept through several regions of Afghanistan following heavy rainfall and snowfall, ending a prolonged period of drought, authorities said on Friday (January 2).

The flooding began on Monday, affecting large areas of central, northern, southern and western Afghanistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The disaster has caused widespread disruption to daily life and displaced hundreds of families, reports Al Jazeera.

In Herat province, five members of the same family were killed on Thursday when the roof of their home collapsed due to intense rainfall in Kabkan district. Two of the victims were children, Herat governor’s spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi confirmed.

The NDMA said at least 11 people were injured in the floods, while extensive damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure has been reported. Around 1,800 families have been directly affected, with many homes destroyed or severely damaged. Large numbers of livestock have also been lost, dealing a significant blow to rural livelihoods.

Videos shared on social media showed powerful floodwaters overturning passenger buses and cargo trucks along the Herat–Kandahar highway in the Dasht-e Bakwa area, as people struggled to escape the fast-moving currents.

NDMA spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Hammad said assessment teams have been dispatched to affected areas to evaluate damage and determine urgent humanitarian needs, while emergency relief efforts are being planned.

Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather due to climate change, weak infrastructure and years of conflict. The United Nations has warned the country will remain one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in 2026, with about 18 million people in need of assistance.