more than 200 dead in a single province, according to the UN

A terrible toll. New flash floods have left more than 200 dead in the province of Baghlan alone, in northern Afghanistan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced to AFP on Saturday. The UN agency reported more than 100 deaths in two different districts, while the authorities of this province had stuck to a death toll of 62 deaths since the day before, while warning that this “would probably increase”. Afghanistan, which experienced a very dry winter making it difficult for the soil to absorb rain, is very vulnerable to climatic upheavals.

“Seasonal rains caused flash floods and people, who had not been able to prepare, were unable to save themselves, which explains such human losses”explained, Saturday, Hedayatullah Hamdard, head of the provincial natural disaster management authority. Videos posted on social media show violent torrents of mud rushing down the streets, as well as bodies wrapped in shrouds.

Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed in the evening “deep sympathy” from the authorities to the victims of the floods. He asked the ministries of Natural Disaster Management, Defense, Interior and provincial authorities to use all their resources to save lives and provide treatment to the injured.