LAQAYI / ISLAMABAD: More than 300 people were killed in flash floods that ripped through multiple Afghan provinces, the World Food Programme said on Saturday, as authorities declared a state of emergency and rushed to rescue the injured.

Pakistan has expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and expre­ssed solidarity with the displaced people.

Heavy rains on Friday sent roaring rivers of water and mud crashing through villages and across agricultural land in several provinces. Survivors on Saturday picked through muddy, debris-littered streets and damaged buildings, an AFP journalist saw, as authorities and non-governmental groups deployed rescue workers and aid, warning that some areas had been cut off by the flooding.

Northern Baghlan province was one of the hardest hit, with more than 300 people killed there alone and thousands of houses destroyed or damaged, according to WFP.

Pakistan expresses grief over loss of lives, solidarity with displaced population

“On current information: in Baghlan province, there are 311 fatalities, 2,011 houses destroyed and 2,800 houses damaged,” Rana Deraz, a communications officer for the UN agency in Afghanistan, told AFP.

However, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration said there were 218 deaths in Baghlan. Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the interior ministry, said 131 people had been killed in Baghlan but that the government toll could rise.

Dar, FO offer condolences

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and property in Afghanistan due to heavy rains and flash floods.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains and flash floods in several provinces of Afghanistan,” Mr Dar said in a post on his official X account.

He said the government and people of Pakistan extend their condolences to the families of victims and displaced people.

“Our prayers for the early recovery of those missing.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2024