KABUL: At least 20 people were killed, more than 80 injured and over 100 remain missing after devastating flash floods swept through Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province following heavy rainfall, officials said.
Authorities said those missing include the mayor of Parun, the provincial capital.
According to Afghan media, rescue operations continued on Tuesday in Parun and surrounding areas after sudden floods struck the region a day earlier.
Search teams were deployed to locate people swept away by floodwaters. Rescue efforts were slowed by rugged mountainous terrain and poor weather conditions.
Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said the casualties were reported from several parts of Nuristan, a mountainous province bordering Pakistan.
The agency said many families were affected, while homes and public infrastructure suffered extensive damage.
Ashiqullah Safi, head of a local non-governmental organization, said floodwaters destroyed or damaged several buildings, hotels and dozens of shops.
He said roads and transport links were also damaged, making it difficult for emergency teams to reach affected communities.
Videos circulating on social media showed residents standing amid mud and debris, while others gathered along fast-flowing rivers to assess the destruction.
The ANDMA warned that further heavy rain, strong winds and flash floods could affect several provinces in the coming days.
Residents were advised to avoid riverbanks, low-lying areas and other locations vulnerable to flooding.
Afghanistan has become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with sudden flash floods occurring more frequently after intense rainfall.
Remote mountainous communities have been among the hardest hit, while weak infrastructure and limited emergency response capacity continue to complicate rescue and recovery efforts.
