At least 33 dead in flash flooding in Afghanistan

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At least 33 people have died and 27 have been injured after heavy flooding from seasonal rains in Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman said on Sunday.

Abdullah Janan Saiq, the Taliban’s spokesman for the State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management, said that flash floods hit the capital, Kabul, and several other provinces across the country.

He added that more than 600 houses were either partially or completely destroyed while around 200 livestock perished.

The flooding also damaged around 800 hectares of agricultural land, and more than 85km of roads, Mr Saiq said.

Western Farah, Herat, southern Zabul and Kandahar are among the provinces that suffered the most damage, he added.

The weather department has warned that more rain is expected in the coming days in most of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

Last year, flash floods caused by heavy monsoon rain killed at least 31 people in Afghanistan and left dozens missing.

Flash flooding happens regularly in Afghanistan during the summer as heavy rain moves down dry riverbeds.

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