Kabul, April 10: At least 148 people have been killed and 216 others injured in Afghanistan in the past two weeks following heavy rains, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes and lightening that has struck several parts of the country, local media reported on Friday citing updates released by the Afghan disaster authorities.

Nangarhar province in Eastern Afghanistan was among the worst-hit areas of Afghanistan in the latest wave of extreme weather conditions, Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. According to the authorities, 24 people were killed and 33 others injured in Nangarhar in the past two days, with many deaths related to collapsing roofs, floodwaters and storm-related damage. At least 1,149 homes were destroyed while roads, farmland and local infrastructure suffered extensive damage, as per the reports.

Over 7,500 families have been impacted, showcasing how seasonal storms cause humanitarian emergency in rural and poorly protected areas. Key roads have been damaged, disrupting connectivity between Kabul and several provinces of Afghanistan. Stranded residents were airlifted from some areas as floods waters swept through villages and urban neighbourhoods.

The weather authorities have warned that more extreme weather conditions could lie ahead, sparking fears that casualties and destruction could further increase in the coming days, Khaama Press reported. In recent years, Afghanistan has faced repeated climate and disasters, including floods, earthquakes and droughts, which have impacted fragile communities of the country.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that severe seasonal flooding has caused extensive damage across Afghanistan over the past two weeks, Afghanistan-based Tolo news reported on Friday.

According to the report, the heavy rains and resulting floods from March 26 to April 6 hit communities in several provinces of Afghanistan, inundating hundreds of villages, Xinhua News Agency reported. More than 73,000 people have been impacted by the disaster.

More than 9,000 homes have been damaged and over 15,500 acres of agricultural land has been destroyed in Afghanistan, sparking concerns about food security in the impacted regions.

Seoul, April 10: The foreign ministry on Friday appointed former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as its special envoy to Iran and will send him to Tehran soon to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean vessels and nationals amid the Middle East conflict, officials said.

The ministry announced the appointment of Chung, currently ambassador for polar affairs, a day after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held phone talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

During the talks, Cho announced the decision to dispatch a special envoy to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East and bilateral issues between South Korea and Iran, Yonhap news agency reported.

A total of 26 South Korea-related vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz under the control of Iran, which has said it will offer safe passage in coordination with its armed forces, but is warning of attacks on ships attempting to pass without permission.

“With the dispatch (of the special envoy), the foreign ministry plans to share views on the Middle East situation and discuss passage not only for our nationals, vessels and crews, but for all ships,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile situation in the Middle East escalating quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday approved direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, in a move seen as potentially reinforcing ceasefire efforts.

Netanyahu earlier said no formal ceasefire agreement exists between Israel and Lebanon.

The US and Iran are expected to begin negotiations over the weekend to formalize the ceasefire terms. US President Donald Trump said overnight he is optimistic about reaching a deal, while warning Tehran against interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran, April 10: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “kill diplomacy,” as a fragile ceasefire took hold following 40 days of fighting.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi said, “Netanyahu’s criminal trial resumes on Sun(day). A region-wide ceasefire, incl(uding) in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing.”

He added that if the United States lets Netanyahu “kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that “time is running out,” stressing that Lebanon and the “resistance axis” are “inseparable” parts of the ceasefire.

Also on Thursday, Araghchi discussed the ceasefire with his Russian, French, Spanish and German counterparts in separate phone calls, Xinhua news agency reported quoting statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Iran took a responsible approach, and that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, promised for two weeks under the ceasefire, will be provided if the United States adheres to its commitments.

In a call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Araghchi expressed regret over Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanon, urging international action. Barrot welcomed the ceasefire and stressed the need to stop Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the attacks on Iran “illegal,” and urged all parties to remain committed to the diplomatic path.

A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Iranian side will be reportedly headed by Qalibaf.

Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, a position disputed by Iran and mediator Pakistan. Hours after the ceasefire came into effect, Israel launched its largest single-day attack on Lebanon, which has killed more than 300 and injured over 1,100.