Flash floods claim 59 lives in Afghanistan

KABUL: The death toll from flash floods caused by heavy snowfall and torrential rains in Afghanistan has climbed to 59, an official statement said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said close to 150 people were also injured due to the floods, adding 24 out of 34 provinces across the country are affected by the devastating floods. It said the death toll is likely to surge as access to remote areas remains restricted.

The Afghan National Army has been mobilized for the rescue and relief operations. More than 14,000 stranded people have been evacuated from the flood-affected areas. On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced flash floods also inflicted severe damage to infrastructure.

The World Food Programme has dispatched more than 1,000 tons of wheat for families affected and displaced by flash floods in Kandahar province alone. The recent spell of heavy snowfall and torrential rains has hit the war-ravaged country after a crippling phase of drought.