Afghanistan: Storm leaves 40 dead

Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in Nangarhar province, as authorities fear the number of victims increase

Afghan authorities, under the control of the Taliban movement, have reported that at least 40 people have been killed and nearly 350 injured due to heavy rains that hit the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Monday. The heavy rains have severely affected the city of Jalalabad and the districts of Surj Road, Bati Kot and Behsud.

Sharafat Zaman, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Health, said the death toll was likely to rise as emergency teams continued their rescue and relief efforts. The storms have not only left a trail of human casualties, but have also caused significant material damage, destroying homes and essential infrastructure.

The damage reported includes the collapse of around 60 high voltage pylons, which has left many areas of Nangarhar without power. This power outage further complicates rescue efforts and assistance to victims.

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Zaibullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman and deputy information minister, had earlier warned of the severity of the rains in the province and ordered state authorities to concentrate their efforts on the worst-affected areas. Mujahid urged authorities to provide shelter, food and medicine to displaced families and to use all available military resources to save lives.

Afghanistan is a country that frequently faces extreme weather events, including floods and droughts. The climate crisis has exacerbated these conditions, and according to United Nations agencies, Afghanistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite being one of the least contributors to global emissions.

Earlier this year, Afghanistan was also hit by a series of earthquakes and severe flooding in March, which has further hampered its recovery process. After decades of conflict and war, the country’s infrastructure is in ruins, and is not suited to dealing with extreme weather.

Meanwhile, rescue teams and humanitarian organizations are working against the clock to assist storm victims and provide necessary aid amid this disaster. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping that relief efforts can mitigate the suffering of those affected and help the country recover from this latest tragedy.