Afghanistan Flash Floods Kill 20 as Rains Devastate Nuristan

News Desk

Kabul: Flash floods triggered by intense monsoon rains have killed at least 20 people and injured more than 80 in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, underscoring the country’s growing vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the flooding struck the provincial capital, Parun, and nearby districts on Monday, sweeping away homes, hotels and commercial buildings. Rescue teams are continuing search operations as several people, including Parun’s mayor and provincial officials, remain unaccounted for.

Authorities said the floods left extensive damage across the mountainous province, with roads blocked by rocks and debris, hampering emergency response efforts. Residents have joined rescue workers in searching for survivors and recovering victims from the devastated areas.

Ashiqullah Safi, head of the local humanitarian organisation Shpoul, described the destruction as overwhelming, saying much of the municipality had been washed away. He noted that large boulders carried by the floodwaters now cover parts of the town, making rescue operations even more difficult.

The tragedy is the latest in a series of weather-related disasters affecting South Asia during this year’s monsoon season. Afghanistan, with its rugged terrain, fragile infrastructure and limited disaster-response capacity, remains highly exposed to flash floods and landslides caused by heavy seasonal rainfall.

Across the region, monsoon rains have continued to cause widespread destruction. Nepal has reported at least 27 deaths since mid-June due to floods, landslides and lightning, while India and Pakistan have also faced deadly flooding and infrastructure damage.

Afghan officials have increasingly linked the country’s recurring floods to the effects of climate change. Earlier this month, the head of the National Environmental Protection Agency, Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis, warned that rising flood risks are worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian challenges and called for greater investment in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.

The Nuristan disaster highlights the mounting human and economic cost of extreme weather events, as vulnerable communities across South Asia face increasingly unpredictable and destructive monsoon seasons. Additional reporting by Al Jazeera.