Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least 20 people, injured around 80 others, and left more than 100 missing in Nuristan province in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, 20 July, according to a government official. The disaster struck one of the country's most remote and mountainous provinces, hampering early rescue efforts.

Scale of the Disaster

Parun, the provincial capital of Nuristan, was the worst-affected area, with numerous houses and infrastructure facilities damaged by the floodwaters, according to local authorities. Officials from the provincial disaster management department reached the affected zones and launched search-and-rescue operations, including recovery of victims' bodies and efforts to locate those still missing.

Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), confirmed in a post on X that the floods caused heavy casualties in the province. He added that preliminary casualty and property-loss figures would be released only after investigations and damage assessments are completed.

Government Response

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan government, separately posted on X expressing condolences to the families of those killed and called for an acceleration of ongoing search-and-rescue operations. The dual statements from senior officials signal the severity with which Kabul is treating the incident.

A Pattern of Recurring Catastrophe

Monday's disaster is not an isolated event. As recently as 9 June, Afghan authorities announced that at least 301 people had lost their lives and 385 sustained injuries from seasonal flash floods and related natural disasters across Afghanistan over just 10 weeks. That same period saw nearly 2,000 homes completely destroyed, with an additional 7,187 partially damaged. Around 580 km of roads were washed away, and agricultural produce across more than 30,300 acres of farmland was submerged or destroyed. A total of 18,812 families were affected nationwide, according to ANDMA.

Afghanistan's Vulnerability to Natural Disasters

Afghanistan ranks among the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Flash floods, landslides, droughts, and avalanches repeatedly claim lives, inflict substantial economic damage, and displace families — compounding the humanitarian crisis that has gripped the country for years. The recurrence of such events in Nuristan, a province with limited road access and sparse emergency infrastructure, makes relief operations particularly challenging. With search-and-rescue still under way, the death toll from Monday's floods could rise further as teams reach more remote areas.