At least 61 people have died, and more than 110 were injured in Afghanistan over the past three days due to severe snow and heavy rainfall, the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) reported on Saturday. The extreme weather battered 15 of the country’s 34 provinces, destroying or partially damaging 458 homes and leaving hundreds of families struggling in freezing conditions. Roads in mountainous areas remain blocked by snow, including the vital Salang Highway, which connects Kabul with northern regions, complicating rescue and relief efforts.

ANDMA spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Yousaf Hamad warned that the figures are preliminary and could rise as information comes in from more remote districts. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel on hazardous roads and to take precautions against worsening conditions.

The disaster highlights Afghanistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, especially in rural areas with poor infrastructure and limited disaster preparedness.