Floods kill dozens, destroy houses in Afghan northeast

KABUL, May 16 (Reuters) Floods triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 800 homes in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, the Interior Ministry said today.

Several other people have gone missing since the downpour started overnight and hit various parts of the remote and impoverished province on the border with China, Pakistan and Tajikistan, the ministry said.

It urged local and foreign aid groups to help the victims.

After years of successive harsh drought, Afghanistan had heavy snow and rainfall this year.

Several hundred people have died mostly from floods in recent months in various parts of the country.

REUTERS ABM HT1740