Disasters & Incidents
Afghan rescuers search for missing after Nuristan flood toll rises
Rescuers were trying to reach people trapped under mud and boulders in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday after a major flood hit Nuristan province, killing at least 23 people.
Around 100 people were unaccounted for, the national disaster agency and the provincial governor's office said. The latest figure updated the toll from Monday's flood.
In Parun, the provincial capital, dozens of people searched for missing people with wooden poles and their hands. A bulldozer was being used to clear some debris, but it had limited effect in an area where floodwater had buried several shops and carried large boulders into buildings.
The governor's office said on Monday that Parun's mayor and other government workers were among those missing.
Farid Gul Zaheer, a 34-year-old pharmacist, said he was injured while trying to flee up a mountain. He said the flood felt like an earthquake and that he heard children and other people screaming. He said people in the area were traumatised and had not slept during the night.
Zakirullah Zaki, manager of the Spogmai Hotel, said other hotels, markets and shops had been completely destroyed. The Spogmai Hotel was still standing amid the damage, and Zaki's missing younger brother was found.
Juma Khan Nayel, communications chief for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, described the situation as devastating and said water had risen to unprecedented levels. He said the Red Crescent had sent dozens of volunteers who were working by hand and with shovels, and was urgently providing food, water and tents to people whose homes had been destroyed.
Afghanistan's defence ministry said the military had been deployed to support relief work. The United Nations said it was assessing the disaster.
The rain and flooding also affected neighbouring Pakistan, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial disaster agency said 12 people were killed.
More than 200 people were killed in flooding and rain in Afghanistan and Pakistan between March and April. The head of Afghanistan's environmental protection agency said this month that the country is particularly vulnerable to climate change and that flooding has increased. Mawlavi Mati-ul-Haq Khalis said environmental problems had severely affected Afghans and contributed to a humanitarian crisis in the country.
Update
The reported death toll rose to at least 23 people.
Around 100 people were reported unaccounted for by the national disaster agency and the provincial governor's office.
Rescuers were struggling to reach people trapped under mud and boulders in Parun.
Residents were searching by hand and with wooden poles, while a bulldozer was of limited use in clearing debris.
The flood buried multiple shops and pushed large boulders into buildings.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society said it had deployed dozens of volunteers and was providing food, water and tents.
Afghanistan's defence ministry said the military had been sent to support relief work, and the United Nations said it was assessing the disaster.
Flooding and rain also affected neighbouring Pakistan, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's disaster agency said 12 people were killed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 08:03:41 UTC.
Update
Afghanistan's disaster agency ANDMA said 20 bodies had been recovered and more than 80 people were injured.
ANDMA said casualties were reported in Parun and other areas of Nuristan.
The governor's office said the mayor of Parun and government employees were among those missing.
An NGO head in Parun said the flood destroyed the municipality, hotels and dozens of shops.
The head of Afghanistan's environmental protection agency said this month that flooding in the country had increased and that environmental problems had contributed to a humanitarian crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 16:50:49 UTC.
Update
The missing include Parun's town mayor and government employees, according to the Nuristan governor's spokesman.
An NGO head said the flood completely destroyed the municipality, hotels and dozens of shops.
Residents were searching without equipment after floodwaters left large boulders in the town.
Afghanistan's disaster agency said rescue and body-recovery efforts were underway.
Afghanistan's government spokesman confirmed deaths and property damage in Nuristan province.
The head of Afghanistan's environmental protection agency said flooding in the country had increased and environmental problems had contributed to a humanitarian crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 16:20:52 UTC.
Update
The flood hit Parun, the capital of Afghanistan's Nuristan province.
Nine bodies had been recovered, according to the Nuristan governor's spokesman.
The spokesman was named as Feraidon Samim.
The missing include the town mayor and government employees.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 16:05:32 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of missing people and the death toll may change as search and rescue work continues.
The source does not give a full assessment of the total damage.
Source
AFP news report published on .