160 Dead As Flash Floods Hit Afghanistan

Rescuers in Afghanistan began to hunt for missing people in the middle of mud and debris on Saturday after a flash flood this week, killing about 160 people and washing homes throughout the country, officials said.

According to the Ministry for disaster management, thirteen provinces, mainly in the north of the country, were hit by flooding.

In Parwan, just north of the capital, Kabul, 116 people had been killed and more than 120 injured, 15 people were still missing, national and local officials said.

“Rescue teams are still in the area and searching for the missing bodies,” said Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for Parwan’s governor.

Flash flood struck Parwan early Wednesday, sweeping away homes and houses. Local police spokesperson Salim Noori stated that the people in the worst-affected areas were mainly growers and migrant employees who had already suffered financially and that the police had called for blood donors for the many wounded.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Afghan security forces are helping with the relief operations and the delivery of assistance. The states were also grappling with increasing aggression from the insurgent Taliban, as the launch of the Doha peace talks was postponed.

NATO said that its troops were now helping the Afghan army and had flown rice, water and blankets to the region earlier this week.