Death tol8k8 appsl rises to 40 from rainstorms, flash floods in east Afghanistan

KABUL - The death toll from rainstorms and flooding in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province has risen to 40 and the number of injured has reached 347, the country's Ministry of Public Health reported Tuesday.

Health workers were dispatched to the affected areas for treating the injured, said Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesman for the ministry, adding that the casualties of the mishap are expected to rise.

The sudden natural disaster took place Monday afternoon and caused heavy fatalities and financial damages in Jalalabad the provincial capital, Sukh Rod District and their neighboring areas in the province bordering Pakistan.

Similarly, five people were killed as flash floods swept away most parts of eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province on Monday morning.

Heavy rains and flooding have killed more than 400 and rendered thousands homeless since May in the war-ravaged country.