Deadly Rains in Eastern Afghanistan: 40 Fatalities, Devastating Impact

Heavy rains in eastern Afghanistan have led to at least 40 deaths and 350 injuries, with significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Emergency services and aid organizations are dispatched to manage the crisis as the nation grapples with the ongoing effects of climate-induced disasters.

Deadly heavy rains in eastern Afghanistan have resulted in the deaths of at least 40 individuals, with nearly 350 others injured, according to Taliban officials on Tuesday. The storm's devastation was particularly felt in Surkh Rod district, where five members of a single family perished as their home's roof collapsed, provincial spokesperson Sediqullah Quraishi confirmed. Four additional family members sustained injuries.

Sharafat Zaman Amar, spokesperson for the Public Health Ministry, reported that 347 injured victims were transported to a regional hospital in Nangarhar from Jalalabad, the provincial capital, and surrounding districts. Approximately 400 homes and 60 electricity poles were destroyed, leading to widespread power outages and communication disruptions in Jalalabad.

As assessments of the damage continue, aid organizations, including the International Rescue Committee, have mobilized to provide emergency services. The IRC's Afghanistan Director, Salma ben Aissa, emphasized the urgent need for increased donor and international community support to mitigate further loss of life amid ongoing climate-induced disasters in the country. The World Food Program highlighted that similar heavy rains in May resulted in over 300 fatalities and extensive property destruction, showcasing the recurrent nature of these environmental challenges.

Meanwhile, the Taliban's official news agency, Bakhtar, reported a separate incident where a bus accident on the Kabul-Balkh highway in northern Baghlan province claimed 17 lives and injured 34 others. Factors such as poor road conditions and reckless driving are often cited in such accidents.

(With inputs from agencies.)