Floods in Afghanistan leave at least 20 dead, over 100 missing

Flash floods have devastated Afghanistan's Nuristan province, killing at least 20 people and leaving more than 100 missing, according to the Taliban government. At least 80 others were injured, and authorities anticipate the number of casualties will increase.

The provincial capital, Parun, bore the brunt of the disaster. Mud and debris now cover areas where shops once stood along the river. Residents are desperately searching for missing loved ones, including the mayor and several government employees.

One local NGO director described the town as completely destroyed, with hotels and dozens of shops obliterated. He noted that locals are searching the flood-affected areas, which are littered with large boulders, without adequate equipment.

Taliban authorities launched a rescue and search operation late Monday in the remote province bordering Pakistan. However, rescuers fear significant financial and human losses. The National Disaster Management Authority has forecast further rain and storms in the coming days across several Afghan provinces, urging residents to stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone areas.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, experiencing both droughts and increased rainfall. Deforestation in Nuristan and other regions has exacerbated the problem of flash floods by reducing the soil's capacity to absorb rainwater.