Extreme rainfall stretching from Afghanistan to Taiwan has triggered flash floods and typhoons, destroying homes and crops and underscoring the escalating impact of climate change, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Extreme rainfall has affected areas from Afghanistan to Taiwan.
- In eastern Afghanistan, residents described 10 days and nights of non-stop rain.
- Homes built from stone and mud have collapsed under the heavy rains.
- Residents say the rains are arriving heavier and earlier each year, washing away crops and roads.
Extreme rainfall across large parts of Asia has brought flash floods and typhoons, with an unprecedented deluge stretching from Afghanistan to Taiwan, according to the Guardian. The report frames the events as a stark illustration of the devastating impact of climate breakdown on vulnerable communities.
In the remote district of Dur Baba in eastern Afghanistan, construction worker Anar Gul described relentless rainfall unlike anything he had witnessed. “It rained for 10 days and 10 nights, non-stop – I’d never seen anything like it,” he told the Guardian.
The homes in Gul’s village are built from stone and mud, materials the Guardian notes make them extremely vulnerable to heavy rains. After days of downpours, Gul’s kitchen collapsed, while his neighbour Sayed Afsar Sadat saw a large part of his house completely destroyed.
Residents say the pattern is worsening year on year. “Rains like this are coming heavier and earlier each year,” Sadat said. “They are destroying the roads and washing away our crops. It’s impacting us directly.”
The Guardian’s account links the extreme weather across the region to climate change, with the phrase “we have lost everything” capturing the scale of destruction experienced by affected communities. The reporting spans multiple countries, indicating the deluge is a broad regional phenomenon rather than an isolated event.
Why it matters
Extreme rainfall events are affecting some of the world's most vulnerable communities, where homes built from basic materials offer little protection. As residents report rains arriving heavier and earlier each year, the destruction of homes, crops and roads points to mounting humanitarian and economic pressures tied to a changing climate.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas are affected by the extreme rainfall?
According to the Guardian, the extreme rainfall stretches across Asia from Afghanistan to Taiwan, bringing flash floods and typhoons.
Why are homes so vulnerable to the rain in eastern Afghanistan?
The Guardian reports that houses in the village of Dur Baba are built from stone and mud, which makes them extremely vulnerable to heavy rains, leading to collapses.
What do residents say about how the rains are changing?
Resident Sayed Afsar Sadat told the Guardian that rains are coming heavier and earlier each year, destroying roads and washing away crops.