Dozens of Afghan civilians killed by flooding in Taliban-enforced areas

More than 60 Afghan civilians are dead due to massive flash flooding in Taliban-enforced regions of the country, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The governor of state province Nuristan, Abdul Qayyum, told the Post that the death toll could rise as rescue crews and government officials gain more access to the area, adding impaired cellular infrastructure having affected communication there. 

The head of the provincial council Saeedullah Nuristani said that 300 homes in a village were all destroyed along with 200 civilians still reported missing, according to the Post. 

Afghan officials told the Post that they are unable to provide medical treatment and rescue efforts in the area due to the Taliban’s presence. 

“No government employee can go to the district,” Afghanistan disaster management agency Samiah Zarbi told the newspaper.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the group is currently considering helping in the recovery efforts, the Post reported. 

This comes after flash flooding and mudslides in the region killed some 200 civilians in August. 

Flash flooding has been common in the northern and eastern areas of Afghanistan during the summer season, the Post noted. 

President Biden announced in April that all U.S. and NATO troops will leave the country by this fall, and the withdrawal is 95 percent complete.