KABUL — Rescue teams in Afghanistan continued searching for survivors and missing people on Wednesday after flash floods in the eastern province of Nuristan killed at least 23 people and left more than 100 others unaccounted for, according to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.
The floods struck Nuristan on Monday, damaging homes and infrastructure in and around the provincial capital, Parun, authorities said. The disaster agency reported that about 80 people were injured, while rescue workers searched through collapsed buildings, mud and debris for those still missing.
Officials said the casualty figures remained preliminary as search and recovery operations continued. The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority has coordinated with local authorities and deployed teams to assess damage and support rescue efforts, according to reports from Afghan media.
The flooding destroyed or damaged homes, shops and other structures, with local residents and emergency crews using heavy equipment to clear debris and reach affected areas, reports said.
Afghanistan’s meteorological authorities have warned of additional severe weather, including heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible flash floods in several provinces. The warnings have complicated rescue operations in some areas and raised concerns about further disruption.
The disaster adds to a series of weather-related emergencies in Afghanistan, a country that has repeatedly faced deadly floods in recent years. Previous flooding events have caused hundreds of deaths and widespread damage, while limited infrastructure and difficult access to remote mountainous regions have complicated emergency response efforts.
Nuristan, a mountainous province in eastern Afghanistan, has communities that are often difficult to reach because of challenging terrain. Officials have not yet provided a final assessment of the full extent of the damage or confirmed whether the number of casualties will change.
Rescue teams were expected to continue searching affected areas as authorities monitored weather conditions and worked to provide assistance to communities hit by the floods.
