Kabul, Jan. 2: At least 17 people have died and 11 others have been injured after flash floods triggered by the season’s first heavy rains and snowfall in Afghanistan, officials said, as reported by the Associated Press (AP). The floods hit several regions and damaged homes, roads and livestock.

Flash floods followed days of rain and snowfall after a long dry spell. The country’s National Disaster Management Authority said most of the deaths have been recorded since Monday in districts hit by flooding, AP reported.

Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, said most casualties had occurred since Monday in districts affected by flooding. He said the bad weather also disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern and western areas, AP said.

Hammad said the floods damaged infrastructure, killed livestock and affected around 1,800 families. He said assessment teams have been sent to the worst-hit areas and surveys are continuing to identify further needs.

Afghanistan faces high risk from extreme weather, including flash floods during seasonal rains. Years of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation and the effects of climate change have increased the impact of such disasters, especially in remote areas where many homes are made of mud and offer limited protection.

The United Nations and aid agencies said this week that Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. The UN announced a $1.7bn appeal on Tuesday to support nearly 18 million people in urgent need.-Agencies