Hundreds of homes destroyed as severe flash floods hit Afghanistan

Severe flash floods across Afghanistan have resulted in at least 11 fatalities and hundreds of buildings partially or completely damaged, the country's Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

According to Ahmad Tamim Azimi, spokesman for the Ministry of State for Natural Disaster and Humanitarian, at least 11 people died while 15 others were injured.

Around 288 houses were totally destroyed, 400 were partially damaged, and 30 mosques were hit. The waters ravaged some 500 ha (1 236 acres) of land.

In the Salang district in Parwan Province, a private power company said some of its power stations and facilities have been struck by floods. One of the stations has been entirely damaged. The company's employees have been deployed to the cities to restore the stations.

The power towers in Salang are considered the main electricity provider in the entire country.

ANDMA said relief items were distributed to 79 families in Takhar Province on March 28, and to 219 households in the district of Shindand in Herat Province on March 30.

Azimi added that the government has allocated around 21 000 dollars or 1.5 million afghanis for disaster management and humanitarian aid.

Heavy downpours have been battering the country since March 21.

Featured image credit: ANDMA