Flash floods batter Afghanistan, at least 22 dead

Published August 11, 2013
An Afghan woman walks, as she is reflected in flood water in Kabul, Afghanistan.—AP Photo
An Afghan woman walks, as she is reflected in flood water in Kabul, Afghanistan.—AP Photo

KABUL: At least 22 people in Afghanistan were killed and farmland was damaged when flash floods hit a plain near the capital, officials said on Sunday.

Normally arid Afghanistan can get heavy rain in its summer and more than 60 people were killed early this month in flooding east of the capital, Kabul.

The latest floods followed hours of torrential rain and hail on Saturday, with the Shomali plain, just to the north of Kabul, particularly hard hit.

Six of the dead were children, said senior Kabul police officer, Sayed Ekramuddin Jalal.

“We have already sent teams of rescuers to the area and taken people out of danger,” he said.

Several people were injured and about a dozen homes were washed away. Many irrigation canals and wells, as well as orchards and fields were damaged, he said.

Some of the victims were visiting relatives for the Eidul Fitr holiday, he said.

Two women were killed and four people were injured in flooding elsewhere, said Ghulam Farouq, an official at the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.