Kabul, March 29 (NationPress) A tragic series of rain-related incidents in Afghanistan has resulted in the loss of 17 lives and left 26 individuals injured over the past 24 hours, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority on Sunday.

Intense rainfall has caused flash floods, landslides, and severe weather phenomena such as thunder and lightning across various regions, including parts of Parwan, Daykundi, Wardak, and Logar provinces, according to Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, the authority's spokesperson.

The floods have resulted in significant destruction, affecting 147 homes, sweeping away 80 kilometers of roads, and flooding 582 acres of farmland, alongside damaging 31 water canals and irrigation systems in the impacted areas, he added, as per reports from Xinhua News Agency.

Hammad emphasized that these initial figures are subject to change as assessment teams continue their evaluations in the affected regions. He warned that the death toll may rise as more data becomes available.

Afghanistan's meteorological services have issued fresh warnings for anticipated rainfall in the upcoming days, increasing the likelihood of further flooding in mountainous and susceptible regions.

Previously, on January 22, a spokesperson from the National Disaster Management Authority reported that heavy snowfall and rain had already claimed at least 11 lives and resulted in three injuries across multiple provinces.

Initial reports from provincial authorities indicated that severe weather had impacted residents in the provinces of eastern Parwan, Wardak, southern Kandahar, northern Jawzjan, Faryab, and central Bamiyan.

These storms have partially destroyed nine homes and led to the loss of 530 livestock, critically affecting local economies in these agrarian areas. The spokesperson noted that heavy snowfall had obstructed vital roads, necessitating urgent clearance efforts by authorities to restore connectivity and facilitate the delivery of aid.

In October of the previous year, the authority reported that 721 families were affected by recent rains and flash floods in three provinces—Kabul, Laghman, and Kapisa.

The spokesperson, Mohammad Younus Hamad, indicated that numerous homes had been either completely or partially destroyed, over 1,000 acres of farmland had been lost, and fruit farmers faced substantial losses, as reported by Afghanistan-based Tolo News. He also mentioned that several kilometers of roads had sustained damage in some areas, leading to the death of 3,000 chickens on a poultry farm.