Afghan Flash Floods: 78 Killed, Over 32 Missing

Kabul: At least 78 people have died in Afghanistan due to heavy rainfall and flash floods in the past week, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said on Saturday.

Thirty people have been wounded and another 32 are still missing, ANDMA spokesman Ahmad Tamim Azimi told dpa news agency.

Nearly 2,600 residential houses have been destroyed, either partially or completely, and 3,600 animals have perished, Azimi added.

In addition, transportation routes and more than 5,000 acres of agricultural land are destroyed.

Earlier on May 4, as per a statement of the local government, at least 12 people were killed as heavy rains and flash floods hit parts of Afghanistan's Herat province.

"Flash floods engulfed vast areas in Adraskan district and neighbouring areas on Monday," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

Among the dead were one woman and four children, according to a local government source.

The floods also destroyed tens of residential houses and orchards in the districts and caused closure of several roads, the statement said.

The rescue personnel arrived in the affected areas, and scores of local households were evacuated to safe areas.

Heavy rains hit many areas in the country in recent weeks.