KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) 鈥� Flash floods in eastern have killed 20 people, injured about 80 more and left more than 100 missing, Afghan authorities said Monday.
The struck the eastern province of Nuristan, said Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, adding that a search and rescue operation was underway to locate the missing.
鈥淯nfortunately, severe floods today in Parun city and several other areas of Nuristan province have caused heavy loss of life and property among our fellow citizens,鈥� Hammad said, adding that the floods had caused extensive damage to people鈥檚 homes, agricultural land and public facilities.
鈥淲e urge all citizens to stay away from flood-prone areas and zones at risk,鈥� he said.
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to , with snow and heavy rain that trigger flash floods, often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time. In 2024, in springtime flash floods. Earlier this year, were killed by widespread flooding and landslides in several parts of the country
, along with poor infrastructure, a , deforestation and the intensifying effects of , have amplified the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.
鈥淲e were saddened to learn that floods caused loss of life and property damage in Nuristan province this afternoon,鈥� said government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. 鈥淲e pray for those who lost their lives in this incident and for a speedy recovery for the injured.鈥�
More extreme weather was forecast, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds accompanied by dust and sand, and flash floods predicted for 10 of the country鈥檚 34 provinces, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation鈥檚 meteorology department said. The ministry warned residents to avoid riverbanks and other areas at risk of flooding.
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Elena Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece
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