Play store
Rescuers in eastern Afghanistan are racing against time to locate dozens of missing people after a devastating flood swept through Nuristan province, killing at least 23 people and leaving around 100 unaccounted for.
The disaster struck on Monday, unleashing massive torrents of water and debris that buried homes, shops, and residents under mud and boulders in the remote provincial capital, Parun. By Tuesday, rescue efforts remained severely hampered due to difficult terrain and limited equipment.
An AFP journalist at the scene saw residents desperately digging through rubble using wooden poles and their bare hands in search of loved ones. Farid Gul Zaheer, a 34-year-old pharmacist, described the terrifying moment: “It felt like an earthquake. I heard children and people screaming.” He was injured while trying to escape uphill.
Heavy machinery has had little impact, as massive rocks carried by floodwaters smashed into buildings and buried entire market areas. Local authorities confirmed that Parun’s mayor and several government employees are among the missing.
Zakirullah Zaki, manager of the Spogmai Hotel, said the destruction felt like “an act of God.” While his hotel remained standing, surrounding establishments were flattened. His younger brother, initially missing, was later found.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society described the situation as “devastating,” with water reaching unprecedented levels. Rescuers are working manually with shovels, while emergency supplies—including food, clean water, and tents—are being distributed to survivors.
Afghanistan’s defence ministry has deployed military personnel to support relief operations, and the United Nations is assessing the scale of the disaster.
Survivors remain deeply traumatised. “I have lost everything,” said Zaheer. “No one slept through the night.”
The flooding has also impacted neighbouring Pakistan, where at least 12 people have died, according to provincial authorities. Earlier this year, more than 200 people were killed in floods across Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Experts warn that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasing floods worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.