61 killed in Afghanistan due to snow and heavy rain
Over the past three days, Afghanistan has experienced a severe wave of violent weather fluctuations, with heavy snow and torrential rains causing a new humanitarian disaster that has struck the country, resulting in the death of at least 61 people in an initial count that is likely to increase.
Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority announced in an official statement on Saturday that the period between Wednesday and Friday saw this tragic toll of casualties, in addition to 110 people sustaining injuries of varying severity. The official data indicated that the losses were not limited to human lives, but also extended to infrastructure and private property, with 458 homes suffering severe damage ranging from total to partial destruction.
The most affected areas and geographical challenges
According to a map published by the agency on the X platform, the damage was concentrated primarily in the provinces of northern and central Afghanistan. These areas are characterized by rugged terrain, surrounded by mountain ranges that make them vulnerable to avalanches and flash floods during heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt.
Afghanistan has historically suffered from weak infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas, where most houses are built of mud and adobe, making them extremely vulnerable to harsh weather conditions such as constant rain and heavy snowfall. This structural reality invariably increases the cost of material and human losses during natural disasters.
Climate context and humanitarian crisis
This disaster comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with complex economic and humanitarian crises, making natural disaster response an immense challenge for local authorities and aid organizations. Similar incidents are common during the winter and early spring in Afghanistan, when snow blocks roads and isolates remote villages, hindering the delivery of rescue teams and urgent medical assistance to those affected.
Meteorologists indicate that global climate change has contributed to an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events in the region, necessitating strengthened emergency plans and rapid response capabilities. This incident serves as a painful reminder of the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, where severe weather exacerbates the suffering of a population already struggling to secure food, shelter, and heating.
Local efforts continue to try to assess the damage and provide assistance to the injured, amid fears that the bad weather will continue, which could lead to an increase in the number of victims or additional flooding in the coming days.
