Rescuers search for survivors amid risk of fresh floods in Afghanistan

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that rescue teams in eastern Afghanistan were searching for survivors on Tuesday after flash floods struck Nuristan province a day earlier, killing at least 23 people and leaving more than 100 others unaccounted for. The flooding sent water down mountain slopes into communities, damaging or destroying homes and other buildings, including in the provincial capital, Parun.

The report said Afghan authorities were also warning of possible further flooding. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds with sand, and flash floods across 10 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. Images from the affected area showed residents and rescue workers amid mud, rubble and damaged shops.

The disaster comes during a monsoon season that has caused deadly floods and landslides across South Asia. Al Jazeera cited recent deaths in northern and northeastern India, as well as monsoon-related fatalities, injuries and a missing person in Nepal since mid-June. Afghanistan, along with Pakistan and India, is especially exposed to flash floods after seasonal rains.

The situation is significant because Afghanistan has limited capacity to respond to extreme weather after decades of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation and climate pressures. Many remote homes are built from mud, making them highly vulnerable to sudden floods and other severe weather. Al Jazeera noted that more than 300 people died in spring flash floods in 2024, and that at least 110 people were killed earlier this year in flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.