Heavy snow and rain kill more than 60 in Afghanistan

2026-01-25 - 21:06

KABUL — Heavy snowfall and rain over the past three days have killed at least 61 people and injured more than 100 across Afghanistan, authorities said Saturday, as efforts continued to reopen roads and reach remote, cut-off villages. Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, said 61 people were killed and 110 injured, while 458 homes were partially or completely destroyed across 15 of the country’s 34 provinces. Hundreds of livestock also died. He said the toll could rise as more information is received from affected areas. Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, with heavy rain and snowfall often triggering flash floods and avalanches that have killed dozens or even hundreds in the past. In 2024, more than 300 people died in spring flash floods. Years of conflict, weak infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation and the growing impact of climate change have worsened the effects of natural disasters, particularly in rural areas where many homes are built of mud and provide little protection against severe weather. The country’s eastern provinces are still recovering from powerful earthquakes that struck last year, destroying villages and killing more than 2,200 people. Those displaced by the quakes are especially vulnerable to freezing temperatures and harsh winter conditions. In December, UNICEF warned that about 270,000 children in earthquake-affected areas faced a severe risk of life-threatening cold-related illnesses. Earlier this month, the United Nations said Afghanistan would remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. The U.N. and its partners have launched a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need.