At least 29 people have died in Afghanistan after heavy rains, floods, and hailstorms battered the country, officials confirmed Tuesday. The severe weather wreaked havoc in two provinces, leaving families devastated and highlighting the growing impact of climate change on the war-torn nation.
In western Farah province, hailstorms claimed the lives of 21 people and injured six others. Authorities said the victims were members of two families who had gone on a picnic when the storm struck.
Meanwhile, in southern Kandahar province, eight people, including women and children, died in separate rain-related incidents. Officials reported that four women washing clothes near a river were swept away by floodwaters, with only one surviving. A child also drowned in the flooding. In another tragic incident, a woman and three children were killed when a roof collapsed under the weight of the heavy rains.
Afghanistan has been identified as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The United Nations noted in 2023 that the nation faces significant threats from drought, flooding, land degradation, and reduced agricultural productivity. Last May, floods in Afghanistan killed hundreds and destroyed vast swaths of farmland, further exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis.
The latest disasters underscore the urgent need for climate resilience measures in Afghanistan, where extreme weather events continue to claim lives and disrupt livelihoods.
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