At least 28 dead and 10 injured as deadly floods sweep across Afghanistan
At least 28 people were reported dead while 10 others were injured as floods triggered by severe storms swept across 17 provinces of Afghanistan between May 21 and 23, 2026. Over 100 families were displaced as the flooding and other disasters destroyed homes and farms across the country.
Vehicles damaged by flooding in Afghanistan May 22, 2026. Credit: ANDMA
Deadly floods swept across parts of Afghanistan, claiming at least 28 lives and injuring 10 in just 48 hours, reported the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Agency (ANDMA) on May 23.
The severe weather and flooding affected 17 provinces, including provinces of Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Khost, Paktia, Maidan Wardak, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Herat, Badghis, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, Laghman, and Kunar.
The fatalities were caused by separate incidents, including flooding, lightning, landslides, and hail across the country. At least 100 families were displaced by the disasters, according to Hafiz Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, the Director of Information and Publications and spokesperson of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Authority.
The storms and flooding destroyed 126 houses, while 524 were significantly damaged. Four shops were also destroyed, while 20 others were damaged. A total of 18 vehicles, 26 culverts, and over 3 500 trees were damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, approximately 391 ha (967 acres) of farm crops and 162 ha (400 acres) of orchards were damaged or destroyed, while 28 farm animals, including cows, sheep, and goats, were lost due to the disasters.
“It is also worth noting that in Kabul, Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, and several other provinces, disaster management teams carried out emergency response operations in the early hours following the incidents. Officials from the Kabul provincial disaster management department conducted urgent rescue operations using heavy machinery and addressed people’s immediate problems. Assistance efforts are still ongoing in the affected areas,” said Hamad.
According to the ANDMA, natural disasters have claimed at least 285 lives and injured 354 since April 26, affecting over 18 000 families in the country. Over 5 100 ha (12 700 acres) of farm crops and over 800 ha (2 000 acres) of orchards have also been destroyed.
Meanwhile, more than 1 800 homes, 200 shops, and 50 bridges have been destroyed. Nearly 700 livestock animals have also been lost.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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