Afghanistan floods: 20 dead, 80+ injured in Nuristan's Parun city
Synopsis
More than 20 people are dead and over 100 missing after flash floods tore through Parun city in Afghanistan's Nuristan province — a disaster unfolding in one of the country's most inaccessible regions, where mountainous terrain is slowing rescue teams and authorities warn the death toll is far from final.
Key Takeaways
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 80 injured in floods in Parun city , Nuristan province , Afghanistan, as of 21 July .
More than 100 people remain missing; the death toll is expected to rise as search operations continue.
The Taliban-run NDMA has deployed specialised teams to assess damage and search for survivors.
Residential homes, agricultural land, and shops have been destroyed or damaged, causing heavy financial losses.
Mountainous terrain and limited road access in Nuristan are hampering rescue and relief efforts.
Afghanistan has suffered repeated disaster events in 2025, including storms that killed 6 people across Kandahar , Herat , Ghor , and Takhar in May.
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 80 others injured after devastating floods struck Parun city in Nuristan province, eastern Afghanistan, local media reported on Tuesday, 21 July. The Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed the casualties and said heavy flooding had impacted Parun and several surrounding areas, causing significant loss of life and widespread destruction.
Scale of the Disaster
More than 100 people are still reported missing after floodwaters swept through Parun and nearby localities, according to Afghanistan's Khaama Press news agency, which cited a statement from Taliban authorities. Officials have warned that the death toll could rise significantly as search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
Hafiz Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, head of information and spokesperson for the NDMA, confirmed that specialised teams had been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the situation, locate the missing, and determine the full extent of the damage.
Damage to Homes, Farmland and Livelihoods
The floods have destroyed or damaged residential homes, agricultural land, and shops, inflicting heavy financial losses on already vulnerable communities. Hamad noted that casualty figures remain fluid and are expected to change as rescue teams push deeper into the flood-hit zones.
Nuristan's rugged, mountainous terrain and limited road connectivity are hampering relief efforts, according to reports, making it difficult for teams to reach isolated communities that may have been cut off by the floodwaters.
Why Afghanistan Remains Highly Exposed
This is not an isolated event. Afghanistan is among the world's most disaster-prone nations, regularly battered by floods, droughts, and landslides. The country's weak infrastructure and limited emergency response capacity compound the human cost of each disaster.
In May 2025, six people were killed and 11 others injured when strong winds and thunderstorms struck the provinces of Kandahar, Herat, Ghor, and Takhar. According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), that event destroyed roads, wells, agricultural land, trees, and hundreds of solar panels. 20 houses were completely destroyed and 10 others partially damaged, ANDMA spokesman Mohammad Yousuf Hamad said at the time.
What Happens Next
Rescue and search operations are continuing in Parun and the surrounding flood-affected areas of Nuristan. Authorities have cautioned that the number of confirmed fatalities is likely to increase as teams reach areas still inaccessible. The full scale of the disaster — in terms of both human casualties and economic damage — is yet to be established.
Point of View
Near-absent infrastructure, and a governing authority whose international isolation limits access to humanitarian aid and technical support. With over 100 people missing and rescue teams struggling through mountainous terrain, the final toll will almost certainly be worse. What rarely gets examined is the structural gap: Afghanistan has an NDMA on paper, but without sustained international engagement, its capacity to pre-position relief or issue early warnings remains critically thin. Each disaster exposes the same fault lines.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been killed in the Nuristan floods in Afghanistan?
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 80 others injured in floods that struck Parun city in Afghanistan's Nuristan province, according to the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority. Authorities have warned the death toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue.
How many people are still missing after the Parun floods?
More than 100 people are reported missing following the floods in Parun and nearby areas of Nuristan province. Specialised teams have been deployed to search for survivors, but mountainous terrain is slowing progress.
What caused the floods in Nuristan's Parun city?
The floods were triggered by heavy rainfall in parts of Nuristan province. The region's mountainous geography and limited road access have compounded the disaster by making rescue and relief operations significantly more difficult.
What damage has been reported from the Nuristan floods?
Residential homes, agricultural land, and shops have been destroyed or damaged across Parun and surrounding areas, causing heavy financial losses. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as teams reach cut-off localities.
Is Afghanistan prone to such natural disasters?
Yes. Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events including floods, landslides, and droughts. In May 2025, separate storms killed six people and injured 11 across Kandahar, Herat, Ghor, and Takhar provinces, destroying homes, roads, and hundreds of solar panels.
