Death toll from floods in Afghanistan rises to 61

At least 61 people have been killed and 116 injured across Afghanistan since March 26 due to heavy rains, floods, landslides and lightning, the Afghan government said Saturday.

At least four people are still missing after floods affected thousands of families and damaged 2,448 homes, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X.

Additionally, thousands of hectares of cultivated land have also been destroyed, posing serious risks to rural communities that depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Deadly floods have hit Afghanistan several times in recent years, causing significant loss of life, injuries and extensive damage to homes, infrastructure and agricultural land.

Extreme weather events such as flash floods and droughts are increasing in Afghanistan, which experts link to the climate crisis.

Despite a negligible carbon footprint, the country ranks among the most climate-affected countries and remains ill-prepared to deal with decades of conflict, poor infrastructure and a struggling economy, made worse by recent earthquakes and severe flooding.