Search continues after deadly floods in eastern Afghanistan
At least 23 people were killed in Nuristan, with more than 100 missing as forecasters warned of more flash floods.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Rescue teams searched damaged homes in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday after flash floods killed at least 23 people and left more than 100 others missing, Al Jazeera reported, citing officials and news agencies. The search unfolded as Afghan forecasters warned that more severe weather could bring further flooding to parts of the country.
The floods struck Nuristan province on Monday after sudden torrents came down from mountain areas, according to Al Jazeera. Officials said an unknown number of buildings collapsed, including in Parun, the provincial capital.
Images distributed by The Associated Press and AFP showed residents and rescue workers examining damaged buildings, with some structures reduced to mud and debris. AFP images from Parun showed destroyed shops and a man sitting near the remains of a damaged house.
More severe weather forecast
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said Monday evening that heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, sand and flash floods were forecast in 10 of the country’s 34 provinces, according to Al Jazeera. The warning raised the risk for rescue operations already under way in mountainous and remote areas.
Al Jazeera reported that Afghanistan is among the countries in the region most exposed to extreme weather, including flash floods after seasonal rains. The country’s vulnerability is worsened by decades of war, weak infrastructure, deforestation and rising temperatures, according to the report.
Many homes in remote Afghan communities are made from mud, offering limited protection when fast-moving floodwaters hit, Al Jazeera reported. That makes sudden downpours especially dangerous in areas where roads, communications and emergency services are limited.
Monsoon damage across the region
The flooding in Nuristan came during a monsoon season that has caused deaths and damage across South Asia, according to Al Jazeera. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are all exposed to extreme weather tied to seasonal rains, the outlet reported.
In India, floods and landslides across northern and northeastern areas killed at least 25 people, Al Jazeera reported Monday. In Nepal, monsoon-related floods, landslides and lightning strikes have killed 27 people since mid-June, with one person missing and 69 injured, according to the same report.
Afghanistan has faced repeated deadly flooding in recent years. Al Jazeera reported that more than 300 people died in spring flash floods in 2024. Earlier this year, at least 110 people were killed by flooding and landslides in several parts of the country, according to the outlet.
The latest search in Nuristan remained focused on finding survivors among collapsed buildings while authorities monitored the threat of new flash floods. Officials had not reported a final count of damaged buildings by Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.