Officials reported that at least 20 people were killed and more than 100 were missing after severe flash floods struck the Kamdesh district in Afghanistan’s mountainous Nuristan province in late July. The flooding, caused by heavy seasonal rains, resulted in the destruction of dozens of homes and critical infrastructure, according to statements from provincial authorities and aid agencies.
The floods occurred overnight, affecting a village in the Kamdesh district. Reports from the area indicated that entire sections of the village were inundated by floodwaters carrying mud and rubble.
Saeedullah Nuristani, the head of the Nuristan provincial council at the time, confirmed the initial casualty figures to news agencies. He stated that search and rescue operations were underway, with local residents actively searching for survivors among the debris. The provincial government reported that the floods destroyed at least four bridges and damaged or destroyed over 170 homes.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management acknowledged the incident and stated that emergency assistance, including food and shelter, was being organized for the affected population. However, humanitarian access to the remote region presented significant challenges. Nuristan is a mountainous province with limited road infrastructure, and the security situation in the area has historically complicated relief efforts by both government and non-governmental organizations.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society also confirmed its response, noting that its volunteers were on the ground to assist with the search for the missing and to provide aid to displaced families.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has previously identified Afghanistan as a country highly vulnerable to natural disasters. According to OCHA reports, seasonal rains frequently cause flash flooding in the country’s northern and eastern provinces, leading to loss of life and damage to agriculture and property.
Local authorities continued to assess the full extent of the damage while rescue efforts focused on locating the dozens of individuals who remained unaccounted for in the days following the event.
