Rain, storms kill 121 in Afghanistan and Pakistan in two weeks

Heavy rains and storms have killed at least 121 people across Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past two weeks, officials said Saturday, as flooding and landslides caused widespread damage to homes and farmland.

Stormy weather has swept across Afghanistan since late March, triggering flash floods and landslides in several provinces.

A spokesman for the country’s disaster management authority said 77 people have been killed and 137 wounded nationwide since March 26.

In the past 48 hours alone, at least 26 people were killed and 48 injured due to rain-related incidents, including floods, landslides, and lightning, officials said.

Among the latest victims were children swept away by flash floods in Ghazni, while three people died in Kandahar after the roof of their home collapsed during heavy rain.

Across the border in Pakistan, at least 44 people have died in recent weeks due to severe weather, according to provincial disaster authorities.

The majority of fatalities were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 32 people died, while 12 others were killed in Balochistan.

Damage to homes, crops and roads

Flooding has destroyed crops and homes, particularly in western Herat, where farmers described the devastation as unprecedented.

“We don’t remember such a flood happening before. It has caused us a lot of damage,” said one farmer, adding that continued rains could force families to abandon their homes.

However, many residents said relocation is not financially possible, leaving them vulnerable to ongoing risks.

The severe weather has also disrupted transportation, with partial road closures reported on the highway between Kabul and Jalalabad.

Climate risks and recurring disasters

Afghanistan frequently experiences deadly natural disasters, particularly in rural areas with fragile infrastructure.

Officials warned residents to avoid rivers and flooded areas and to closely follow weather advisories.

Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, compounding challenges for Afghanistan, one of the world’s poorest countries after decades of conflict.

Farmers say the shifting pattern—from drought to intense rainfall—has made livelihoods increasingly uncertain.