Kabul: Flash floods in northern Afghanistan after two days of torrential rain have killed more than 80 people, officials said Friday, with scores more missing as helicopters searched for stranded villagers.
Abdul Manan Raoufi, a provincial police spokesman in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan, put the death toll Friday in that province at 36 but other officials put the number of bodies recovered at 43.
Moammadullah Alizai, the governor of Badghis province in northwestern Afghanistan, said another six people were killed in flooding there.
Azizul Rahman Aymaq, who heads the disaster relief committee of Jawzjan province, said heavy rain and storms swept through two districts of the region last night.
He said more than 5,000 people have been displaced, there are shortages of medicine and water. Afghan army helicopters are helping rescuers reach the affected areas.
