KABUL, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 679 people were killed and 1,634 others injured as seasonal flash floods and associated natural disasters swept across Afghanistan over the past year, authorities reported on Tuesday.
The disasters have also caused extensive destruction to infrastructure and rural livelihoods, Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority spokesman Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad said.
Nearly 4,500 homes have been completely razed, while 17,664 dwellings have suffered partial damage, Hammad said. Additionally, about 746 km of roads have been washed away, and more than 83,300 acres of agricultural land have been inundated during this period.
In total, 44,918 families have been affected across the country, the official added.
Afghanistan remains one of the most disaster-vulnerable nations globally, where recurrent flash floods, landslides, prolonged droughts, and avalanches continue to claim lives, causing severe economic losses. ■