Flash flood in Afghanistan kills at least 95, sweeps away thousands of homes

Crisis-hit Afghanistan loses lives in flash floods. Apart from deaths, homes have been swept away leaving the people stranded. The country is reeling from an economic and humanitarian crisis. These are because of Western sanctions imposed after the Taliban returned to power last year. It is now the people who are suffering and are at the receiving end. The extreme weather is aggravated by the flooding in neighboring Pakistan. Its Disaster Management Authority reveals floods have killed 820 people since mid-June. Moreover, thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed as are many bridges. These have disturbed the lives of the people and limited the travel options. Nearly 100 dead in Afghanistan floods, officials say.

Deputy Minister of Disaster Management of Afghanistan informed a section of the media that food assistance had been dispatched to many flood-affected areas. Moreover, there are promises from aid organizations for delivery of emergency assistance. However, these might fall short of actual requirements. With winter around the corner, the affected families with women and children would face difficult times. They have lost their shelters. To add to their miseries, they have lost their agricultural farms and orchards. Either these are destroyed or their harvest has been damaged. In fact, their survival is at stake and the situation will worsen in the coming weeks and months. They need help to return to normalcy as soon as possible. An earthquake in Afghanistan in June killed more than 1,000 people and the country has been through a number of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Hence, aid organizations, the United Nations and the global community have to extend help to the flood-affected Afghans. The immediate need is for basic amenities like food, shelter and medicine apart from homes, livelihood and drinking water sources.

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Harrowing times in Pakistan - more than 280 people killed in rain-related incidents since mid-June

Life in Pakistan is in tatters with hundreds of deaths in rain-related incidents since mid-June. The National Disaster Management Authority NDMA estimates loss of at least 282 lives with injuries to more than 200. Heavy downpours have lashed the country and the dead include nearly 160 women and children. The rains have damaged houses, bridges and business establishments across the country. Most of the damages and casualties were from Balochistan province. The death toll is 88 with more than 60 injured. The flash floods were triggered by the rains. Other casualties were 57 in the east Punjab province, 56 in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and 14 in other parts of the country.

The authorities have launched rescue and relief activities. They are providing basic amenities like food packets, tents, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, blankets and tarpaulins to those affected by the rains and floods. Forecast of the Met department is more rains in the coming days. 282 killed, over 200 injured in rain-related incidents in Pakistan It believes the monsoon spell would continue through the ongoing week. It has also cautioned about urban flooding and waterlogging apart from landslides in northern parts of the country. These could lead to travel hurdles.

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Floods in Kentucky leave at least 28 dead

Kentucky is a state of the United States. It has the Ohio River in the north and the Appalachian Mountains in the east. Heavy rains in the region have devastated the eastern parts of Kentucky and floods have taken a heavy toll of lives. The authorities confirmed loss of lives of at least 28 people. The figure could increase as more rains threaten the region. Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky confirmed death of at least four children. He added that more bodies have been recovered but details have yet to come out. At least 28 dead in devastating Kentucky flooding, with more expected, governor says.

The Governor also mentioned about "widespread damage" that displaced thousands of people. There are reports of power outages for thousands apart from washed out roads that have affected travel. Many homes are destroyed and schools are flooded. He would visit some of the regions to see for himself the impact of the floods. There are more rains forecast and search and rescue teams have been deployed to locate those who are reported to be missing. So far, aircraft and boats have rescued more than 600 people. Incidentally, the destruction in Kentucky is the latest extreme flooding event to take place in the U.S. in less than a week. Las Vegas witnessed heavy downpours coupled with flash floods. These led to rise in water levels on the road and parking garages in busy parts of city. It seems the mega drought in the region has dried up the soil. As a result, the region became so dry that it could not absorb the heavy rains. That factor probably contributed to the flooding. Kentucky is trying to establish shelters. Last week, President Joe Biden has already approved a disaster declaration.

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At least 283 killed in Haiti as Hurricane Matthew causes massscale devastation

The death toll from Hurricane Matthew has gone up to at least 283 in Haiti as the rescue workers try to get a closer look at the extent of the devastation across the Caribbean nation. Many of the dead lost their lives to falling trees as it struck Haiti's southern peninsula towns with winds of 145 mph winds.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 6 October 2016.

As the weather calmed down, convoys and helicopters have started to venture to marooned corners of the country in order to assess the damage and determine how to help thousands of people who lost homes, livestock and crops. As per estimates of the government, at least 350,000 people need some kind of assistance after the disaster. This disaster has been labeled as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since the devastating earthquake of 2010.
Incidentally, in 1963, Category 4 Hurricane Flora had killed as many as 8,000 people.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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