Flash floods in eastern Afghanistan have resulted in the deaths of 20 people, with around 80 others injured and more than 100 reported missing, officials said Monday. The disaster struck the Nuristan province, where search and rescue efforts are currently underway to locate those unaccounted for.

Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, described the severe flooding as causing significant loss of life and extensive damage to homes, agricultural land, and public infrastructure in Parun city and other parts of the province. He urged residents to avoid flood-prone and high-risk areas as authorities continue their emergency response.

Afghanistan is frequently affected by extreme weather events such as heavy rain and snow, which often trigger devastating flash floods. These events have repeatedly resulted in high casualty figures; for example, more than 300 people died in spring floods in 2024, and earlier this year at least 110 people lost their lives in floods and landslides across multiple regions.

Experts attribute the heightened impact of such natural disasters to several factors, including decades of conflict, inadequate infrastructure, economic challenges, deforestation, and the worsening effects of climate change. Many communities in remote areas of Afghanistan live in mud-built homes, which offer limited resilience against sudden floods or heavy snowfall.

Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed sympathy for those affected by the floods in Nuristan. “We pray for those who lost their lives in this incident and for a speedy recovery for the injured,” he said.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as relief efforts focus on rescue operations and mitigating further damage in the affected region.