At least 23 killed in Afghanistan's Nuristan floods as rescuers search for more than 100 missing

Rescue crews in eastern Afghanistan are searching for survivors after sudden flash floods killed at least 23 people in Nuristan province and left more than 100 others missing. The flooding struck on Monday, with teams on Tuesday digging through the rubble of collapsed homes and mud-covered debris. Forecasters have warned that more flooding could follow, keeping the emergency response under pressure.

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Officials said an unknown number of buildings collapsed in Nuristan, including in the provincial capital, Parun. Footage from the area showed homes reduced to mud and rubble after waters cascaded down mountainsides. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation's meteorology department said on Monday evening that heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, sand and flash floods were forecast in 10 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

That warning suggests the immediate threat is not confined to Nuristan. The disaster has added to a difficult monsoon season across South Asia, where extreme weather has already caused deaths and displacement in several countries. Afghanistan is considered especially vulnerable because of decades of war, weak infrastructure, deforestation and a warming climate.

In remote areas, many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden flooding or heavy snowfall. The scale of the damage in Nuristan, combined with the number of people still missing, means the search effort is likely to remain urgent. The floods also highlight the wider challenge facing Afghan authorities as seasonal rains intensify.

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Afghanistan has repeatedly suffered deadly floods and landslides in recent years, and the latest disaster comes after earlier flooding this year killed at least 110 people in several parts of the country. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods. Those figures underline how recurring weather shocks are becoming a major humanitarian and infrastructure problem.

The current emergency is unfolding in a province that is difficult to access and where rescue operations can be slowed by terrain and damaged roads. Parun, the provincial capital, was among the places reported to have suffered building collapses, suggesting the impact may be concentrated in communities with limited resilience. The warning for 10 provinces also raises the possibility of further casualties or displacement if the weather system persists.

What remains unclear is the full number of dead, the exact scale of the destruction, and how many of the missing may still be found alive. Officials have not yet given a complete assessment of the damage or the number of collapsed buildings. The key developments to watch are whether the forecasted storms materialise in other provinces and how quickly rescue teams can reach isolated areas.

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