16:10/05:05:2010

Floods caused by days of heavy rain have inundated four villages in western Herat province, killing at least 15 people and leaving seven more missing, officials said on Wednesday.
More than 500 houses were destroyed Tuesday night in the Obeh district, east of the provincial capital, Herat city, the head of the Red Crescent Society, Nuruddin Ahmadi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said six children and three women were among the dead.
Flooding causes dozens of casualties each year during Spring as canals are not adequate to channel the water away from residential areas.
Ahmadi said that an army team of medics has reached the remote area, but the villagers were in dire need of food and shelter.
In neighbouring Ghor province, five people have been killed, three wounded and eight others have been reported as missing after floods hit areas in the provincial capital, Cheghcheran, and the districts of Lal Sargangal and Dolena.
"My house is partially destroyed and our belongings have been washed away," said a Cheghcheran resident, (PAN)