Floods kill three, destroy 300 houses in western Afghanistan

[senorpepr]

KABUL (AFP) - Heavy rains triggered floods in remote western Afghanistan that killed at least three people and destroyed some 300 houses.

The worst-affected area was impoverished Nimroz province, which lies at the confluence of the war-shattered country's three major rivers, provincial governor Ghulam Dastageer Azad told AFP Monday.

Hundreds of people have already died from disease and accidents during Afghanistan's worst winter in a decade and local and US officials have warned that melting snow could now cause disastrous floods.

"At least three people have died due to collapse of houses in Zaranj, the provincial capital, and more than 50 houses have been destroyed due to heavy rain showers," Azad said.

At least 150 houses were washed away in neighbouring Chakhansur district, while around 100 houses have collapsed in Chahar Burjak district, he added.

"As the weather gets warmer we expect horrible floods. I have asked the government and aid agencies to take aid and help to the province," Azad added.

People in the three affected districts of Nimroz, which borders Iran (news - web sites), have moved to higher ground and the main road to Chakhansur district is blocked by flood waters.

"We are only in telephone contact with Chakhansur and the roads to the district are blocked. We cannot send them help," he said.

Several southeastern provinces are also bracing for major floods.

The US military said Sunday that several deaths had already been reported in the southeastern provinces of Paktia, Khost and Paktika as a result of flooding and worse is expected.

Paktia governor Ustad Hakeem Taniwal said Sunday that Afghanistan faced a "human tragedy" from the floods and urged aid agencies and the Afghan government to head off the problem.

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