Kabul residents worried about flash floods

KABUL (TOLO News): Kabul Municipality has warned of flash floods as torrential rainfalls have intensified in the capital and some provinces, expected by the meteorology department to continue until today (Wednesday).

Images of Kabul River water overflowing to the riverbank roads and streets have gone viral since Monday, with flooded waters on the streets make problems for passerby.

Two people have died and 35 houses destroyed in Kabul, according to officials.

Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani visited some flood-affected areas in the west of the city, talking to people about their problems and resolves.

Kabul Municipality said that disaster management teams are working in the vulnerable neighborhoods to prevent flood damages.

Kabul Mayor, Ahmad Zaki Sarfaraz, said that more houses on the two banks or Kabul River would be likely damaged. He called the recent rainfalls “a matter of concern”, saying the overflow of Kabul River threatened houses and shops near the river.

Kabul Mayor also asked ministry of education to hold a school break for a few days. The meteorology department says that the rate of rainfall in Kabul and some provinces would exceed 50 millimeters.

Ministry of National Disaster Management reports of the death of 127 people due to floods in 19 provinces. The provinces of Ghazni, Kandahar and Herat have been more affected by recent floods, with Jilani Farhad, spokesman for Herat provincial governor saying that five people died, 10 injured and 17 more went missing due to the past 24-hour floods in the districts.

He added that parts of the Kandahar-Herat highway were also damaged and the road was closed for traffic.

21 of 34 provinces are in threat of flood and mudslide, according to the meteorology department.