DID Press: A powerful dust storm swept across southern and western Afghanistan on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to public infrastructure, uprooting trees, and disrupting daily life, while Taliban meteorological authorities issued fresh warnings for heavy rain, flash floods, and strong winds across 21 provinces.
The storm struck parts of Herat, Farah, Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, and Helmand on Wednesday afternoon, according to videos shared by residents on social media.
Footage from Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, showed damage to public facilities and destruction of several urban structures along major boulevards. Another video appeared to show fuel pumps torn from a fuel station by the force of the winds.
Residents reported extensive losses, though the exact scale of the damage remains unclear. Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority under the Taliban administration has not yet released an official assessment.
At the same time, the Taliban-run Meteorological Department issued a weather warning for Thursday, predicting heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, strong winds, dust storms, and flash floods in 21 provinces.
The alert covers Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, Balkh, Sar-e Pol, Panjshir, Parwan, Kapisa, Laghman, Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Kabul, Logar, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Maidan Wardak, and Bamyan.
Rainfall between 10 and 35 millimeters is forecast in affected regions, with authorities warning of possible flash floods in vulnerable areas.
The department also warned of severe winds and dust storms across central and southeastern Afghanistan, with wind speeds expected to reach between 50 and 95 km/h in some locations.
Officials urged residents, especially drivers, to exercise caution while traveling and avoid rivers, waterways, and flood-prone areas during severe weather conditions.