Flash floods have killed at least 20 people and injured about 80 more in the eastern Afghan province of Nuristan, authorities reported Monday. More than 100 individuals are currently missing.
Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, stated that the floods struck Parun city and several other areas within Nuristan province, causing significant loss of life and property. Extensive damage was reported to homes, agricultural land, and public facilities.
A search and rescue operation is underway to locate the missing, Hammad said, urging citizens to avoid flood-prone areas. The Afghanistan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department has forecast more extreme weather, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and flash floods across 10 of the country's 34 provinces, warning residents to stay away from riverbanks and at-risk zones.
Afghanistan is highly susceptible to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rainfall frequently triggering flash floods that can result in numerous casualties. In 2024, over 300 people died from springtime flash floods, and earlier this year, floods and landslides in various parts of the country killed at least 110 people.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed condolences for the loss of life and property damage in Nuristan, offering prayers for the deceased and a swift recovery for the injured. Decades of conflict, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, a strained economy, deforestation, and the escalating impacts of climate change, have exacerbated the effects of such disasters, particularly in remote regions where many homes are constructed from mud and offer minimal protection against sudden downpours or heavy snowfall.