Story perspectives

Flash Floods Kill 23, Leave 100 Missing in Nuristan

7/22/2026

Summary

Flash Floods Devastate

Flash floods hit Nuristan province on July 20, killing at least 23, leaving 100 missing, and prompting rescue crews to search collapsed houses and blocked roads on July 21.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority reported 80 injuries.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation warned rain and flash floods could affect 10 provinces, while critics say Taliban restrictions have delayed humanitarian aid and no emergency appeal has been issued.

Summary

Taliban Deploys Troops

Deforestation and illegal logging have lowered water absorption in Nuristan, intensifying the flash floods that hit Parun.
The Taliban governor of Nuristan urgently requested emergency assistance from senior Taliban leaders.
The Taliban Defense Ministry deployed troops to aid rescue and relief efforts in the province.
Provincial spokesperson Fereydoun Samim said the floods caused afghanis in losses and that aid from Kabul, 115 miles away, will not arrive until late Tuesday.

Summary

Safi Leads Rescue

The flood completely destroyed Parun’s municipal building.
Residents are searching the debris themselves because rescue teams lack proper equipment.
Boulders and stones washed through the city are blocking homes and hindering rescue work.
With the municipal building ruined, local officials are forced to operate from shelters.
Shpoul, led by Ashiqullah Safi, is organizing volunteer groups to locate missing people, exposing serious gaps in disaster-preparedness infrastructure across Nuristan province.

History

Historical Context

The devastating July 2024 flash floods in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province echo the massive 2010 Pakistan floods that swamped the Indus basin, killing nearly 2,000 and displacing about 20 million. Illegal logging and delayed Taliban coordination, highlighted by Governor Fereydoun Samim’s emergency appeal, have intensified the disaster, which left 23 dead and dozens missing.

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Flash Floods Devastate

Flash floods hit Nuristan province on July 20, killing at least 23, leaving 100 missing, and prompting rescue crews to search collapsed houses and blocked roads on July 21.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority reported 80 injuries.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation warned rain and flash floods could affect 10 provinces, while critics say Taliban restrictions have delayed humanitarian aid and no emergency appeal has been issued.

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