Heavy rains, floods and hailstorms kill 22 near Afghanistan capital

8/11/2013

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan disaster management official says heavy rains and overnight hailstorms killed at least 22 people near the capital.

Mohammad Daim Kakar, who is general director for disaster management in Kabul province, said today that at least 20 people died in Chakardara district just north of the capital. He adds the victims include seven children.

Most of the victims were in cars when floods swept their vehicles away and submerged them, Kakar says.

He says another two children died in a flood in the Paghman district west of the city.

Heavy rains affected eastern Afghanistan late Saturday and today.

Last week flash floods killed about 75 people in five eastern provinces.