Northern Afghanistan Flood Disaster: Flash Floods Trigger Landslide, Six Dead, Homes Destroyed In Mountain Villages

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan— Flash flooding and a landslide destroyed multiple homes in northern Afghanistan on October 20, killing six people and leaving families stranded in mountain villages cut off from roads.

Heavy rain started overnight in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces. By morning, narrow valleys had turned into rivers. Water poured down bare slopes. At around 7 a.m., a hillside above a village in Takhar collapsed. Mud, rocks, and water slammed into houses made of mud brick and timber. Survivors said they had minutes to run.

Six bodies have been recovered, including three children. Local officials said the number is likely to rise as more areas are reached. Dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged. Livestock was swept away. One elder said his entire compound disappeared. "The water took everything," he told local radio. "We are left with mud."

Access is the main problem. Roads to several districts are blocked by debris. Bridges have been washed out. ReliefWeb and local NGOs said teams are moving on foot with shovels. No heavy machinery has reached the worst-hit villages. The provincial disaster authority said it has deployed teams but that landslides are still occurring.

Northern Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to flash floods. Deforestation, fragile soils, and years of conflict have stripped hillsides of protection. Most homes are built on floodplains or at the foot of unstable slopes. Early warning systems are almost nonexistent. Villagers rely on word of mouth and mosque loudspeakers.

The Taliban administration's disaster management ministry confirmed six fatalities and said assessments are underway. A spokesperson said food, tents, and medical supplies are being prepared in Mazar-i-Sharif for airlift if weather allows. Aid groups said they have not been granted full access yet. Satellite phones are the only communication in some valleys.

Winter is approaching. Families who lost homes are sleeping in open fields. Temperatures drop sharply at night in the mountains. Children are at risk of hypothermia. Aid workers said they need shelter and clean water urgently. One aid worker said, "These people lost their houses in October. They will not rebuild before snow."

Forecasts show more rain in the next 48 hours. Officials warned of further landslides. Residents in low-lying areas have been told to move to higher ground. Few have anywhere to go. The death toll remains at six, pending reports from remote areas.