Heavy rain and ongoing flood warnings hampered efforts to locate dozens of people missing after a severe flood struck eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday. The disaster, which occurred on Monday in Nuristan province’s capital, Parun, resulted in at least 23 confirmed deaths, with approximately 100 residents still unaccounted for.

The floodwaters surged through Parun, destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Among those killed was Sayed Ahmad Arhabi, the mayor of Parun, according to the provincial governor’s office. Governor Zain-ul-Abidin Abid described the event as a “tragic and serious incident” and pledged that recovery teams would retrieve all bodies by Tuesday evening.

Local residents recounted scenes of devastation and terror as the flood struck. Farid Gul Zaheer, a 34-year-old pharmacist, recounted the experience as "never witnessing such a dangerous flood," likening it to an earthquake accompanied by screams from those caught in the rush of water. Zaheer sustained injuries while fleeing to higher ground and said he had lost all his belongings.

Rescue operations faced significant challenges due to continuous heavy rain and accumulation of debris. Volunteers and rescuers worked with limited equipment, using bare hands and wooden poles to sift through the wreckage. A bulldozer was deployed but its effectiveness was constrained by the difficult conditions. The Afghan Red Crescent Society mobilized dozens of volunteers to assist, providing emergency supplies such as food, water, and tents to displaced residents.

Authorities in Parun have issued warnings urging people to keep away from riverbanks amid forecasts of additional rain and storms in Nuristan and other provinces. The Afghan military has also been deployed to support rescue and relief efforts, while the United Nations is evaluating the situation to coordinate humanitarian assistance.

The flood’s impact extended beyond Afghanistan’s borders, affecting neighboring Pakistan, where 12 deaths were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province due to similar weather conditions. The region has experienced significant flooding and heavy rainfall earlier this year, which claimed more than 200 lives across both countries between March and April.

Experts attribute the rising frequency and severity of floods in Afghanistan to climate change. Mawlavi Mati-ul-Haq Khalis, head of the country’s Environmental Protection Agency, said this month that environmental challenges have exacerbated the plight of the Afghan population and contributed to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. With infrastructure vulnerable and disaster preparedness limited in some remote areas, such natural disasters continue to pose significant risks to local communities.