ISLAMABAD

At least 51 people have been killed and 89 injured in widespread flooding across Afghanistan over the past eight days, as heavy rains continue to hit large parts of the country, officials said on Friday.

In the last 24 hours alone, three people were killed and 16 others injured as floods swept through at least 18 provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, local media outlet Amu reported, citing Muhammad Yousaf Hamad, spokesman for Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority.

Authorities reported widespread destruction, with hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged and nearly 1,500 acres of farmland washed away in the latest flooding.

More than 800 families have been affected in the past day alone.

Since the rains began on March 26, at least 676 homes have been destroyed, hundreds of kilometers of roads damaged, and nearly 4,000 acres of land impacted. Overall, more than 8,600 families have been affected nationwide.

Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to seasonal flooding during spring, when heavy rainfall and melting snow strain fragile infrastructure.

Officials warn that the latest floods pose serious risks to rural communities, many of whom rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.