Afghanistan Floods Kill 23, Over 100 Missing
Rescue teams are searching through rubble in eastern Afghanistan after flash floods killed at least 23 people in Nuristan province. Around 80 people were injured and more than 100 remained missing as authorities warned that the toll could rise.
Afghanistan Flash Flood Death Toll
Torrential rain triggered sudden flooding across Parun, the provincial capital, and surrounding areas on Monday. The city suffered extensive damage to homes, shops, agricultural land and government buildings.
Among those reported missing were Parun’s mayor and two bodyguards. Floodwaters also destroyed the municipality building and deposited mud and large boulders across the mountainous city.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority launched search-and-rescue operations, but damaged roads, difficult terrain and limited equipment complicated efforts to reach affected communities.
Nuristan Rescue Operations Continue
Residents joined emergency workers in searching through debris for survivors. Officials warned of substantial human and economic losses as assessments continued across the province.
Photographs and videos from Parun showed collapsed buildings and streets covered with rubble. Authorities urged residents to avoid riverbanks, flooded streams and other vulnerable areas.
Afghanistan’s meteorological authorities forecast further rain, thunderstorms and possible flash floods across 10 of the country’s 34 provinces.
Afghanistan Faces Extreme Weather Risks
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, landslides and other extreme weather events. Decades of conflict, widespread poverty and weak infrastructure have reduced the country’s ability to respond to major disasters.
Deforestation and illegal logging have also increased flood risks in some regions by reducing the soil’s capacity to absorb heavy rainfall. Many rural communities live in homes built from mud or other materials that offer limited protection against fast-moving water.
Extreme weather earlier in 2026 killed more than 100 people across Afghanistan, while devastating floods in May 2024 caused hundreds of deaths.
