2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan floods explained

2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan floods
Duration:6 March 2024 - ongoing
Location:Afghanistan, Pakistan
Cause:Heavy rainfall, flash floods
Fatalities:993
Injuries:2,154
Missing:40

Since 6 March 2024, unseasonably heavy rains and resultant flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan killed nearly 1,000 people, and injured many more.[1] [2] This extensively damaged infrastructure and agriculture.[2] [3] [4]

Damage and casualties

Afghanistan

During floods in April, over 100 people died[5] and 54 were injured due to heavy rains and floods in 23 provinces. At least 2,134 houses were destroyed and 10,789 livestock were killed.[6] The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan reported that heavy rains and floods affected more than 25,000 families[5] and damaged nearly 1,000 houses.[7] [8] Department spokesman Janan Sayeq reported that most casualties occurred due to roof collapses. Over of road and 9,271 hectares (22,910 acres) of agricultural land were flooded.[6] [9] [10]

The United Nations said further flooding on 10-11 May killed 540 people, with the Afghan World Food Program office reporting 1,651 injuries.[11] In Baghlan Province, 300 died, 100 others were injured, 1,000 houses were destroyed and many more damaged.[12] In Baghlani Jadid District, 100 people were killed and 1,500 houses sustained damage.[13] There were also 2,042 damaged houses in Burka District.[14]

Another 20 people died and 80 more were injured in Takhar Province,[15] while another three were killed in Herat Province.[16] The provinces of Badakhshan and Ghor were also affected.[17] Floods continued throughout 17-18 May, killing 150 people.[18] There were 84 deaths, five injuries and 40 missing in Faryab Province, where 1,870 houses were damaged, while another 55 died and hundreds more were missing in Ghor, where 3,000 houses were destroyed and 6,000 more were damaged;[19] [20] over 2,000 houses were destroyed, 4,000 others were damaged and 2,000 shops were submerged by floodwater in Chaghcharan alone.[21]

Flooding on 15-16 July killed at least 60 people. Severe damage occurred in Nangarhar Province, where 47 people died and 350 others were injured, with 400 homes destroyed.[22] Flooding also killed five people in Kunar Province, destroying 50 houses and of road there.[23] In Kapisa Province, five people died and 35 houses were destroyed.[24]

Pakistan

On March 6, heavy rains caused a landslide in Swat District, killing over 40 people.[25]

Throughout April, a further 99 people, including 44 children, were killed and 94 were injured in additional floods, which damaged over 3,500 houses and 464 schools.[26] The most affected province was Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 64 deaths were recorded, followed by Punjab with 21 deaths and Balochistan with 15 deaths.[26] Torrential rains caused floods and power outages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.[3] A majority of the deaths were caused by lightning killing farmers harvesting wheat crops, and rains causing homes to collapse. Streets in several cities were flooded. Rainfall also lashed Islamabad.[27] Authorities declared a state of emergency in Balochistan.[28]

Since July, flooding continued in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab Provinces, killing 154 people.[29]

Causes

The extreme rainfall was in stark contrast to the unusually dry winter. The resulting dry soil struggled to absorb the rain, which exacerbated the flooding. Some experts cited climate change as the cause.[2] [30]

Response and recovery

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority advised emergency services to be on high alert, as another round of heavy rains was expected. The confirmed dead include 25 children, 12 men and nine women, while the injured include 11 women, 33 men and 16 children.[3] The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicted more intermittent rain in all four provinces. The ongoing rains with possible flooding in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were thought to have continued until 22 April.[31]

See also

References

Citations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heavy rains and floods kill over 100 across Pakistan and Afghanistan. 16 April 2024. Voice of America. 21 April 2024. 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240420013101/https://www.voanews.com/a/heavy-rains-and-floods-kill-over-100-across-pakistan-and-afghanistan-/7572327.html. live.
  2. News: Weather tracker: rains bring deadly flash floods to Afghanistan and Pakistan. 19 April 2024. The Guardian. 21 April 2024. 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240420105821/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/19/weather-tracker-rains-bring-deadly-flash-floods-to-afghanistan-and-pakistan. live.
  3. Web site: Massive rains, flash floods kill nearly 100 in Pakistan. 20 April 2024. The Express Tribune. 21 April 2024. 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240420174139/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463295/massive-rains-flash-floods-kill-nearly-100-in-pakistan. live.
  4. Web site: Torrential rains claim 3 more lives in KP; death toll rises to 46. 20 April 2024.
  5. News: 11 May 2024. Another 29 Killed In Afghanistan Rains. 20 April 2024. Channels TV. 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240420151719/https://www.channelstv.com/2024/04/20/another-29-killed-in-afghanistan-rains/. live.
  6. News: Afghanistan floods death toll climbs to 90. Kuwait News Agency. 9 May 2024. 23 April 2024. 9 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509185347/https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=3148180&language=en. live.
  7. Web site: MSN . . 21 April 2024 . 30 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530184724/https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/more-than-100-killed-across-pakistan-and-afghanistan-as-flash-floods-and-heavy-rains-sweep-the-region/ar-AA1nea2M . live .
  8. Web site: More than 100 killed across Pakistan and Afghanistan as flash floods and heavy rains sweep the region . 21 April 2024 . 18 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418212124/https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/more-than-100-killed-across-pakistan-and-afghanistan-as-flash-floods-and-heavy-rains-sweep-the-region/1641950 . live .
  9. Web site: 14 April 2024 . Dozens killed in Afghanistan as heavy rains set off flash floods . 15 April 2024 . Al Jazeera . 16 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416225601/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/14/dozens-killed-in-afghanistan-as-heavy-rains-set-off-flash-floods . live .
  10. Web site: 16 April 2024 . Hundreds killed as storms lash Pakistan and Afghanistan . 17 April 2024 . Al Jazeera . 17 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240417064834/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/16/heavy-rains-kill-49-in-pakistan-state-of-emergency-declared . live .
  11. News: 23 May 2024. OCHA. Afghanistan Floods: Flash Update #3 - Floods hit the Northeastern Region of Afghanistan (22 May 2024). 23 May 2024. ReliefWeb. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530184725/https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-floods-flash-update-3-floods-hit-northeastern-region-afghanistan-22-may-2024. live.
  12. News: 11 May 2024. Afghanistan floods leave more than 300 dead, thousands homeless, UN says. 11 May 2024. France 24. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511082228/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240511-more-than-200-dead-in-afghanistan-flash-floods-un. live.
  13. News: 11 May 2024. Over 200 Dead In Afghanistan Flash Floods In A Single Day. 11 May 2024. NDTV. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075550/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/over-200-dead-many-houses-damaged-in-afghanistan-flash-floods-in-baghlan-province-report-5638695. live.
  14. Web site: UNOSAT. Mudflow impact in Burka District, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan as of 14 May 2024 - Imagery Analysis: 14/05/2024 Published 16/05/2024 V2. ReliefWeb. 16 May 2024. 17 May 2024. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530184726/https://reliefweb.int/map/afghanistan/mudflow-impact-burka-district-baghlan-province-afghanistan-14-may-2024-imagery-analysis-14052024-published-16052024-v2. live.
  15. News: 11 May 2024. Afghanistan: Flash floods in Takhar kill 20, injure 80. 11 May 2024. Amu TV. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511091951/https://amu.tv/96372/. live.
  16. News: 11 May 2024. Afghanistan: Floods in Herat kill three, including a child. 11 May 2024. Amu TV. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511091951/https://amu.tv/96456/. live.
  17. News: 11 May 2024. Flash floods kill hundreds in Afghanistan, Taliban says. 11 May 2024. Express & Star. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511091021/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2024/05/11/flash-floods-kill-hundreds-in-afghanistan-taliban-says/. live.
  18. News: 19 May 2024. At least 150 dead as heavy rain triggers flash floods. Microsoft Start. 19 May 2024. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530184725/https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/at-least-150-dead-as-heavy-rain-triggers-flash-floods/ar-BB1mFQYU. live.
  19. Web site: Afghanistan Floods: Flash Update #1 - Floods hit the Northern and Western Regions of Afghanistan (20 May 2024). ReliefWeb. 20 May 2024. 20 May 2024. 21 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240521091625/https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-floods-flash-update-1-floods-hit-northern-and-western-regions-afghanistan-20-may-2024. live.
  20. Web site: 19 May 2024. Recent floods leave 540 dead in Afghanistan: UN. 19 May 2024. ariananews.af. 19 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240519185410/https://www.ariananews.af/recent-floods-leave-540-dead-in-afghanistan-un/amp/. live.
  21. Web site: 18 May 2024. At least 50 killed in heavy rains, floods in Afghanistan's Ghor province. 18 May 2024. Al Jazeera. 18 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240518083911/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/18/at-least-50-killed-in-heavy-rains-floods-in-afghanistans-ghor-province. live.
  22. News: 16 July 2024. Death toll in Afghanistan rains rises to 47. 16 Jul 2024. Dhaka Tribune.
  23. News: 16 July 2024. Floods-Hit Kunar Families Call For Emergency Assistance. 16 Jul 2024. Menafm.
  24. News: 17 July 2024. From Climate Change To “Foreign Conspiracy”: Recent Floods Result In 60 Deaths And Over 300 Injuries. 17 Jul 2024. 8am.media.
  25. Web site: 6 March 2024. Northwestern Pakistan landslide: More than 40 killed in heavy rain and snowfall. 11 May 2024. Microsoft Start. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530184727/https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/northwestern-pakistan-landslide-more-than-40-killed-in-heavy-rain-and-snowfall/vi-BB1joS5y. live.
  26. Web site: OCHA. Pakistan: Flash Floods Flash Update No.2 (as of 21 April 2024). ReliefWeb. 22 April 2024. 11 May 2024. 22 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240422160033/https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-flash-floods-flash-update-no2-21-april-2024. live.
  27. Web site: 15 April 2024. Lightning, rains kill 36 people in Pakistan. 15 April 2024. NPR. 16 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240416190056/https://www.npr.org/2024/04/15/1244766407/lightning-rains-kill-36-people-in-pakistan. live.
  28. Web site: 16 April 2024. Lightning, rains kill 49 in Pakistan as authorities declare a state of emergency in the southwest. 16 April 2024. AP. 17 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240417064834/https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-rains-lightning-weather-a8d8035be76856a1538eb347a18ed675. live.
  29. News: More flood warnings in Pakistan as 154 killed in six weeks of monsoon rains. Arab News. 8 August 2024. 12 August 2024.
  30. Web site: MSN . .
  31. Web site: Pakistan Flooding, Storms Kill Dozens . 21 April 2024 . 19 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419181803/https://weather.com/news/weather/video/pakistan-flooding-storms-kill-dozens . live .

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