KABUL, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- A flash flood killed at least 47 residents and left 50 others missing in Badghis province of western Afghanistan, Health Minister Mohammad Amin Fatimi told Xinhua on Friday.

    The flood caused the casualties in Balamurghab district on Thursday night, he said, adding rescuing teams had started to search the missing ones.

    Some reports said hundreds of houses in the district had been destroyed by the flood, which was caused by days of heavy rain, Fatimi said.

    "But I only can confirm dozens of houses were destroyed, "he said.

    The district is facing many problems like lack of shelters, destruction of the health center, he said, adding he had talks with UN officials in Afghanistan to seek assistance.

    He said NATO military helicopters had flown to the district to provide aid, but couldn't land as the region was in flood totally.

    The helicopters had tried to carry eight tons of aid stuff including medicine, blankets, food, which were provided by Afghan Health Ministry, to the district, he added.

    Meanwhile, Badghis governor Nasim Tokhi told Xinhua that thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged in Balamurghab district, and he called for the international community to provide assistance.

    He said floods destroyed villages along the Murghab River and thousands of people were still in danger.

    Ghormach district in Badghis and Shindan district in the neighboring Herat province were also affected by flood, said Fatimi. He added that he had no information about casualties in the two districts.

    Stacie Shafran, a spokeswoman of NATO forces, said the troops are aware of the severe flood disaster in Badghis, and have talked with the governor and other provincial officials over the situation. The forces are providing medical and other assistance to the victims, she added.

    As a land-locked country, Afghanistan has faced severe drought this year in many regions, which left 2.5 million people short of food, though floods have also occasionally stricken some provinces.

    On Nov. 10, a flood killed at least eight residents and destroyed 100 houses in Dehsod district of the eastern Nangarhar province.