Key facts
- Flash floods in Nuristan province killed 23 people and injured 80.
- Over 100 people are missing following the floods.
- The provincial capital city of Parun was affected, with buildings collapsing.
- The Taliban government has launched rescue operations.
- Authorities have warned of continued heavy rain and flooding in several provinces.
Devastating flash floods in Afghanistan's eastern Nuristan province have killed at least 23 people, injured 80, and left over 100 missing, according to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority. The provincial capital city of Parun was among the areas hit, with authorities reporting that an undetermined number of buildings collapsed. Rescue crews were searching through the rubble for survivors and bodies on Tuesday. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department has warned of continued extreme weather, including heavy rain and flash floods, predicted in 10 of the country's 34 provinces. Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to such events due to decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation, and the intensifying effects of climate change, which amplify the impact of disasters.