Flash floods have caused mass casualties and widespread devastation in northern Afghanistan as more than 300 people lost their lives and over 1,600 others were injured in the disaster, authorities said on Sunday.

After intense rainfall on Friday, many individuals are unaccounted for as powerful torrents of water and mud swept across villages and agricultural areas in the provinces of Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, and Ghor, which has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, a country that is already grappling with the aftermath of several earthquakes earlier this year and severe flooding in March.

Baghlan Province was one of the hardest hit areas, with more than 300 locals killed, thousands of houses destroyed or damaged in the floods, according to the World Food Programme.

"On Friday evening, when I came home from work, there were torrents and people told me about the floods. So, I went to my neighbor's home and saw a dead body; also, some dead cows around our home," said Sadam Hussian, a resident.

"It's my nephew's grave, that is my father's grave and my brother and sister were buried over there. My father and nephew were dead when the house was collapsed by the floods. I was able to take them out under the debris after the floods hit the house but wasn't able to dig out the other three of my loved ones," said Sahib Khan, a survivor.

Local authorities said the relief efforts were being made to meet the needs of the affected population and called for international help, saying thousands of homes have been damaged and livestock washed away or killed.

"We've already shown our readiness. We have sent the available food and nonfood materials to the affected provinces. But unfortunately due to the continuous and heavy rainfalls in the affected areas, the efforts were affected. The assistance sent to many of these provinces were distributed to the affected people. We sent food and other assistance from Kabul to Baghlan province which suffers the most and also some materials that we had in Mazari Sharif were also sent there. Currently, some our fellow citizens and charity organizations have also been stepping up and assisting the affected families," said Janan Sayeq, spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management.

Aid groups have warned of damage to health care facilities and vital infrastructure such as water supply.

Afghanistan is prone to natural disasters and the United Nations considers it one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

SHOTLIST:

Baghlan, Afghanistan - May 11-12, 2024
1. Various of bulldozer clearing mud, people unclogging sewer;
2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Sadam Hussian, resident:
"On Friday evening, when I came home from work, there were torrents and people told me about the floods. So, I went to my neighbor's home and saw a dead body; also, some dead cows around our home.";
3. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Sahib Khan, survivor:
"It's my nephew's grave, that is my father's grave and my brother and sister were buried over there. My father and nephew were dead when the house was collapsed by the floods. I was able to take them out under the debris after the floods hit the house but wasn't able to dig out the other three of my loved ones.";
4. Various of flood-affected people

Kabul, Afghanistan - May 11-12, 2024 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
5. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Janan Sayeq, spokesperson, Ministry of Disaster Management:
"We've already shown our readiness. We have sent the available food and nonfood materials to the affected provinces. But unfortunately due to the continuous and heavy rainfalls in the affected areas, the efforts were affected. The assistance sent to many of these provinces were distributed to the affected people. We sent food and other assistance from Kabul to Baghlan province which suffers the most and also some materials that we had in Mazari Sharif were also sent there. Currently, some our fellow citizens and charity organizations have also been stepping up and assisting the affected families.";

Baghlan, Afghanistan - May 11-12, 2024
6. Floodwater.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]