At least 37 killed in Afghanistan flash floods

At least 37 people have been killed and dozens more gone missing after flash floods swept different parts of Afghanistan yesterday. More than 100 homes have been destroyed as a result of the flooding that followed two days of torrential rain and hail fall in the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan. Hundreds of villagers in high-risk areas have been evacuated as a precaution against further flooding. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said many of the unpaved, rutted roads in northern Afghanistan have been severely flooded, making aid distribution difficult. Provincial spokesman Abdulhai Khatibi said the floodwaters had displaced hundreds of people and destroyed hundreds of hectares of farmland in the impoverished province. "Many, many houses have been destroyed, and there are reports of lots of cattle and other animals being killed," he said. "It is cloudy and we expect more rain." In May, flash floods in the northern province of Sar-e-Pol killed 50 people, mostly women and children.