Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: The Israeli force, which crossed into southern rural Damascus, has reached the town of Qatana, located just 10 kilometers from the Syrian capital
Local sources: An Israeli ground unit, comprising more than 15 military and armored vehicles, carried out an incursion into southern rural Damascus from the occupied Syrian Golan
Belgian court orders regional government to stop military exports to Israel, Belga reports
Latin Patriarchate in occupied al-Quds: The Holy Family Church in Gaza was subjected to Israeli shelling, resulting in injuries, including Father Gabriele Romanelli
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in France: Georges Abdallah’s lawyer has officially informed him of the court’s decision granting his release
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was martyred in a raid that targeted the town of Kfour, Nabatieh District
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was martyred in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a truck in the town of Naqoura
Defense Attorney: Lebanese activist George Ibrahim Abdallah will be released on July 25
Georges Abdallah's defense attorney: The decision to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah will be issued in a few minutes
The French judiciary decided to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah after 41 years of detention

Afghanistan devastated by flash floods: Death toll exceeds 300

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 12 May 2024 09:04
4 Min Read

Survivors continue to navigate through debris-strewn streets and damaged structures while rescue teams are deployed, with concerns raised about inaccessible areas due to flooding.

  • x
  • The bodies of Afghans killed in the floods are placed on the ground in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, on Saturday. (AP)
    The bodies of Afghans killed in the floods are placed on the ground in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, on Saturday. (AP)

Over 300 people lost their lives in flash floods that swept through various provinces in Afghanistan, according to the UN's World Food Programme.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency and are working urgently to rescue those injured. Numerous individuals are still unaccounted for following intense rainfall on Friday, which triggered torrents of water and mud to engulf villages and farmland across multiple provinces, creating a significant humanitarian crisis, as characterized by one aid organization.

As rescue workers and aid organizations mobilized, survivors navigated through streets filled with mud and debris and surveyed the damage to buildings on Saturday. Concerns were raised about areas isolated by the flooding. Particularly impacted was the northern Baghlan province, where over 300 fatalities were reported, and thousands of homes were either destroyed or damaged, as stated by the World Food Programme.

#Breaking
Afghanistan needs urgent help. NOW!!!!

This is extraordinary situation. The international community MUST urgently mobilise and provide immediate assistance to those affected by the floods. #Baghlan #floods #Afghanistan

pic.twitter.com/Kohu1DEr7w

— Mustafa BaÄŸ (@mustafa__bag) May 11, 2024

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

Discrepancies emerged in the reported death tolls between government sources and humanitarian agencies.

Government tally to increase

The UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported 218 fatalities in Baghlan, while Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for the interior ministry, stated to AFP that 131 individuals had been confirmed dead in Baghlan. However, he noted that the government's tally might increase.

“Many people are still missing,” he said.

Additionally, another 20 fatalities were reported in the northern Takhar province, with two more deaths recorded in the adjacent Badakhshan region, he further noted.

He added: “The deluge has wrought extensive devastation upon residential properties, resulting in significant financial losses.”

Related News

Fatal Texas floods could cost up to $22 bln, AccuWeather estimates

24 dead, campers missing after flash floods in Texas

Breaking 🚨 Afghanistan🇦🇫

More than 800 people died due to severe flood and storm in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/7c4jJUnfo8

— I$lami© T€rrorist (@raviagrawal3) May 11, 2024

Severe damage was inflicted by torrential rains in the provinces of Baghlan, Takhar, and Badakhshan, as well as in the western Ghor and Herat, according to officials, in a nation marked by poverty and reliant on agriculture.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, according to his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

Dujarric also mentioned that the UN is collaborating with local authorities to offer assistance.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) was gearing up for swift action in response to the floods, emphasizing that these events should serve as a wake-up call for world leaders and donors to remember a nation afflicted by years of conflict and recurring natural disasters. 

The big picture

Since mid-April, floods, including flash flooding, have claimed approximately 100 lives across 10 provinces in Afghanistan, as reported by authorities.

The inundation has submerged farmland in a nation where over 80% of the population, exceeding 40 million people, rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Afghanistan, having experienced a relatively dry winter, faces challenges in soil absorption during rainfall, heightening its susceptibility to flooding.

With its prolonged history of conflict spanning four decades, Afghanistan ranks among the world's poorest countries and is notably ill-equipped to confront the impacts of climate change.

Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, has lately highlighted on X that the floods serve as a clear indication of the country's vulnerability to the climate crisis.

Recent floods in #Afghanistan including #Baghlan which claimed many lives, are a stark reminder of Afghanistan’s vulnerability to the #climatecrisis & both immediate aid and long term planning by the #Taliban & internat actors are needed. Condolences to the families of vicitims.

— UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett (@SR_Afghanistan) May 11, 2024

“Both immediate aid and long-term planning by the Taliban and international actors are needed,” he added.

Read more: When nature 'strikes back', the world floods

  • Flash Floods
  • Afghanistan
  • IRC
  • flooding

Most Read

An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed
Politics

George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed

A still from the video released by al-Qassam Brigades, which reads, "Captivity is better than death", on July 17, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video warning Israelis: Captivity better than death

Georges Abdallah attends his trial in Lyon on July 3, 1986 (Social Media)
Politics

'A symbol for every prisoner': Hezbollah hails Georges Abdallah

Plume of smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Qabrikha, July 17, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

'Israel' kills mother, father, injures 10-year-old daughter in Lebanon

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS