Over 50 dead, approximately 2,500 families, residential homes covering hundreds of hectares of agricultural land and orchards, and hundreds of bridges, culverts, and retaining walls were destroyed….reports Asian Lite News
At least 50 people, including women and children, lost their lives in the Ghor province of Afghanistan following devastating floods in the region, Khaama Press News Agency reported on Saturday.
Local authorities in Ghor stated that due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the region on Friday, approximately 2,500 families, residential homes covering hundreds of hectares of agricultural land and orchards, and hundreds of bridges, culverts, and retaining walls in various areas of Ghor province have been destroyed.
Thousands of livestock have perished, and tens of vehicles have been swept away by the floods.
Local officials in Ghor continue to state that, including the Ghor-Herat highway, transportation routes to most districts in this province have been blocked, Khaama Press reported.
Flash flooding has wreaked havoc in Baghlan province and several other provinces across Afghanistan. The rapid onset of floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, has resulted in significant loss of life and property damage in Baghlan and other areas.
Reports indicate that floods have destroyed homes and infrastructure, and transport routes have been blocked, leaving communities isolated and in urgent need of assistance, Khaama Press reported.
Local authorities, alongside national relief efforts, are mobilizing resources to provide aid to affected areas. However, challenges persist due to the scale and intensity of the flooding.
On May 16, Pope Francis urged the international community to help the flood victims in Afghanistan, Vatican News reported.
During the general audience, Pope Francis said he was praying for the victims, particularly the children and their families.
In the past few days, at least 300 people have been killed in flooding in 18 districts across at least three provinces in northern Afghanistan. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), hundreds more have been injured, and it is believed that many people remain buried in the mud. (ANI)
Spanish tourists among 4 killed in armed attack in Afghanistan
At least four people, including three foreigners, were killed, and seven others were injured in an armed attack in Bamyan province of Afghanistan, as reported by Khaama Press News Agency, citing the spokesperson of the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Interior.
Spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani shared that four individuals have been arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the attack and out of seven injured, three are foreigners.
Abdul Mateen Qani added that four individuals suspected of involvement in this attack have been arrested.
As of now, no individual or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Qani condemned this attack on his social media platform X and said the perpetrators would be arrested and punished, Khaama Press reported.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior of the Taliban did not say anything about the identities of the foreign citizens targeted.
Later on, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the three individuals killed on Friday were Spanish citizens. At least one Spanish national was also among those injured, Al Jazeera reported.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a post on social media that he was “overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan”, offering his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Sanchez also said he was following the situation closely and pledged consular support.
“Overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan. I follow the situation punctually. The Consular Emergency Unit of @MAECgob is working to offer all the necessary assistance. I want to convey all my affection to his family and friends,” he posted on X.
However, according to the local people the attack on Friday in Bamyan, four foreign tourists and their driver were killed, and eight ordinary individuals, including a driver, were injured. The report added that the foreign tourists were likely citizens of Russia.
According to several reports, ISIS has been active in Afghanistan, particularly in certain regions where it has sought to establish a presence and carry out its extremist agenda, Khaama Press reported.
Despite the Taliban’s control over much of the country, ISIS has continued to pose a significant security threat through its insurgent activities, including targeted attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure.
The group’s tactics often involve suicide bombings, assassinations, and intimidation, aiming to destabilize the region and undermine the authority of the Taliban.
However, despite efforts to combat ISIS, the group continues to carry out attacks, highlighting the persistent security threats faced by Afghanistan and the difficulties in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. (ANI)
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