At least 30 people have been killed in Afghanistan after floods caused by a heavy monsoon rain spell washed away homes, a disaster ministry official said on Sunday.

Mohammad Shafi Rahimi, the ministry spokesperson, said 26 of the deaths occurred in Jalrez district, 46km east of Kabul, after the rain washed away hundreds of houses, most of them built of earth.

Four more people died in Kabul, and a total of over 70 were injured in both the districts, Rahimi said, adding at least 40 others were missing.

Afghan Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a condolence message, calling on aid groups and the Kabul administration to help the bereaved families.

Last year’s monsoon flooding killed dozens of people in Afghanistan, washing away hundreds of houses and livestock.

Reuters