Severe floods leave at least 26 dead in Helmand and Farah, Afghanistan

Heavy rainfall in Afghanistan’s Helmand province has resulted in the deaths of 5 people, including women and children, and left six others injured on February 26. Authorities confirmed that the floods affected the districts of Sangin, Musa Qala, and Babaji in Helmand.

Hafiz Abdulbari Rashid, the head of the Information and Culture Department in Helmand, stated that in Sangin’s Shahzada area, the roof of a house collapsed because of flooding, resulting in the deaths of two children. In Musa Qala, three more individuals lost their lives as floodwaters swept through the district. In Gereshk district, a lightning strike hit a house, injuring six residents.

The latest disaster follows severe flooding in Farah province on February 25, when at least 21 people died and five others sustained injuries. Reports indicate that torrential rains in Pusht-e-Koh district caught three families off guard during an outing in the mountains. Flash floods rapidly engulfed the area, throwing individuals into deep ravines and leading to casualties. Women and children were among those who perished.

The Taliban’s meteorological department had issued prior warnings regarding the risk of flash floods across multiple provinces, including Farah. The region is prone to extreme weather, with annual flooding causing loss of life and property damage.

In response to the recent floods, the National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) released a statement expressing condolences to the affected families.

“With deep sorrow, we have received the news that due to the recent heavy rains and floods in various parts of our dear country, many of our fellow citizens have suffered loss of life and property. As a result, a number of our countrymen have been martyred, injured, and displaced,” Al-Haj Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, the Director of ANDMA, stated.

Turabi urged government officials, organizations, and charities to provide immediate aid and relief to those impacted. The authority has directed provincial officials to distribute financial assistance, food, and non-food supplies to affected families.

Afghanistan has struggled with severe weather events over the past few years. In 2024, heavy rains and flooding killed at least 500 people, injured over 2 000, and displaced nearly 80 000, according to UN reports.

More than 10 000 homes were damaged or destroyed, exacerbating the difficulties faced by an already vulnerable population. Repeated flooding has also led to losses in livestock and agriculture, further weakening the economic stability of affected regions.

With frequent occurrences of heavy rainfall and flash floods, authorities and humanitarian organizations have stressed the need for better early warning systems and improved disaster response mechanisms.

Infrastructure in flood-prone areas remains inadequate, leaving communities vulnerable to recurring natural disasters. The ANDMA continues to coordinate relief efforts while urging global and regional partners to assist in long-term resilience-building initiatives.

References:

¹ Heavy Rains and Flash Floods Claim 21 Lives in Western Afghanistan – KABULNOW – February 26, 2025

² Floods and Lightning in Helmand leave 5 dead, 6 injured – The KHAAMA PRESS – February 26, 2025

Rishika Yadav

Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.

This author does not have any more posts.