Hundreds of homes destroyed as dike bursts amid melting snow in northern Afghanistan

Melting snow is being blamed for triggering a dike to burst in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday night. The torrent of flood waters swept through numerous villages, destroying hundreds of homes and claiming lives.

At least 10 people are dead and 300 homes completely destroyed in Panjshir Valley, which is located north of Kabul, the Associated Press reported.

More than a dozen other people remain missing amid the flooding, which also damaged 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of farmland. Several mosques have been destroyed.

While heavy rain has not fallen in the Panjshir Valley recently, the dike reportedly failed when the river of the same name became swollen with runoff from melting snow in the higher peaks of the mountains, according to Xinhua.

Melting snow from the mountains feeding rivers below occurs yearly, but warmer-than-normal conditions have dominated the area since June.

Villagers had been concerned about landslides in the days before the disaster due to increasingly warmer weather, the Times of India reported.

Showers and thunderstorms that erupt daily near the northern border of Pakistan should remain east of the flood-ravaged valley.

A rescue operation was underway as local anti-disaster authorities and security force members rushed to the village in the mountainous province.

Dry weather is expected to aid in rescue and recovery efforts through at least early next week.

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