Deadly Earthquake and Floods Worsen Afghanistan’s Troubles
nytimes.com • • general
Key Points:
- A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province on Friday night, killing at least 12 people and damaging 33 houses in Kabul Province, intensifying the country's ongoing crises.
- Heavy rains and flash floods earlier this week have caused at least 77 deaths, injured 137, destroyed nearly 800 homes, and damaged over 2,600 others across eastern, central, and southern Afghanistan.
- Flooding has severed key roads, isolating large parts of the country and driving up food prices, exacerbating Afghanistan's critical food shortage amid ongoing hunger and conflict.
- The country is still recovering from two deadly earthquakes last year and significant aid cuts totaling $1.8 billion, alongside escalating clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces.
- Personal accounts highlight the human toll, such as the collapse of a mud brick house in Spin Boldak that killed three children and injured six others during recent heavy rains.
