2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan floods

2024 Afghanistan-Pakistan Floods

Date	12 April 2024 – present
Location	Afghanistan, Pakistan
Cause	Heavy rainfall, flash floods
Deaths	130+ (across both countries)

Since 12 April 2024, heavy rains, lightning, and flash flooding in both Afghanistan and Pakistan killed more than 130, and injured many more. The floods were caused by unseasonal heavy rains, lightning and storms that swept across the two neighboring countries. The floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture on both sides of the border.

Damage and Casualties

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, 66 people died and 36 were injured due to heavy rains and floods in 23 provinces. More than 1200 houses were completely or partially destroyed in flooding. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan reported that heavy rains and floods affected more than 1,200 families and damaged nearly 1,000 houses. Department spokesman Janan Sayeq reported that most casualties occurred due to roof collapses. 200 livestock perished. Over 600km (370 miles) of road and 800 hectares (1,975 acres) of agricultural land were flooded. Fifty were confirmed dead, while 27 were injured.

Pakistan

In Pakistan the most affected province was Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the death toll rose to 46. Torrential rains caused floods and power outages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. A majority of the 50 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. Authorities declared a state of emergency in Balochistan.

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.

Response and recovery

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) advised emergency services to be on high alert, as another round of heavy rains was expected. The NDMA confirmed that the dead include 25 children, 12 men and nine women, while the injured include 11 women, 33 men and 16 children. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted more intermittent rain in all four provinces. The ongoing rains with possible flooding in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are likely to continue until 22 April.