Afghanistan: Flash Floods Kill 20, Leave Over 100 Missing in Nuristan | Firstpost Live | N18

[00:00:00]Catastrophic flooding has devastated Afghanistan's Nuristan province killing at least 23 people and leaving several others missing. Monsoon driven torrential rains swept through the remote northeastern region destroying homes, shops, and government buildings in the provincial capital, Parun.

[00:00:38]While more than 100 people including the town's mayor still remain missing, according to the Nuristan governor's office, nine bodies have been recovered so far. Parun is the worst-hit area. The province sits on the border of Pakistan and a town near the riverside has shops and commercial buildings clustered in a low-lying area. But the flooding completely destroyed the municipality.

[00:01:03]Several buildings have been damaged.

[00:01:05]Floodwaters have left large boulders scattered throughout the town. And where riverside shops once stood, only mud now remains. The disaster management agency reported severe financial and human losses in the province. Residents began searching the debris for survivors but without proper equipment. And Taliban officials say relevant agencies are engaged in rescue operations. The chief government spokesperson confirmed deaths and destructions in Nuristan province.

[00:01:34]>> We were saddened to learn that floods caused loss of life and property damage in Nuristan province this afternoon. We pray for those who lost their lives in this incident and for a speedy recovery for the injured.

[00:01:48]>> And the danger is far from over.

[00:01:50]Afghanistan's meteorological department has warned of continued heavy rain and flooding through Wednesday. The warning affects 10 of the country's 34 provinces. Officials have advised residents to avoid approaching river banks and areas prone to flooding. But, the ongoing floods are not an isolated disaster. In April, heavy rains and floods killed at least 150 people across northern Afghanistan. The World Food Program reported a higher death toll of more than 300. And in May, at least 24 people died in another flooding incident. Extreme rainfall has become more frequent and more intense due to climate change. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier downpours.

[00:02:33]Nuristan is known for its dense forests and rugged mountains, but deforestation and illegal logging have made the region more vulnerable to flash floods.

[00:02:42]Officials say the degraded land can no longer absorb heavy rainfall effectively. And Afghanistan's Environmental Protection Agency says the worsening environmental crisis has deepened the country's humanitarian challenges.

[00:02:56]Afghanistan remains among the world's most vulnerable nations to climate disasters, compounded by decades of war that have left the country impoverished and its infrastructure weakened.

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