By The South Asia Times

KABUL/ ISLAMABAD - Flash floods triggered by torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 23 people in Afghanistan's northeastern Nuristan province, while neighboring Pakistan continues to battle deadly flooding and rain-related emergencies across its northwestern regions, authorities said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan's National Disaster Preparedness Authority (ANDPA) said the flooding struck Parun, the capital of Nuristan province, on Monday after intense rainfall sent torrents of water through the mountainous district.

According to updated preliminary figures released by the authority, at least 23 people were killed, 80 injured and nearly 100 others remain missing.

Deputy spokesperson Taj Mohammad Hemat said rescue teams had recovered 15 bodies so far, while search operations continued in difficult terrain in an effort to locate survivors and those still missing.

Officials said the flash floods caused widespread destruction, completely destroying seven homes and partially damaging another 23. The floods also swept away or severely damaged 70 shops, 40 vehicles and 11 hotels, disrupting transport and communications in the remote province.

Local media reported that entire neighborhoods were inundated within minutes as floodwaters carrying mud and debris surged through Parun, trapping residents and damaging public infrastructure. Emergency responders, assisted by local volunteers, have been using heavy machinery where possible, but rescue efforts have been slowed by blocked roads and difficult access to mountainous villages.

Authorities warned that casualty and damage figures remain preliminary and are expected to rise as search-and-rescue operations continue and assessment teams reach isolated communities.

The flooding comes as Afghanistan faces another year of extreme weather, with recurring flash floods causing heavy casualties and widespread destruction in several provinces in recent months. The country's fragile infrastructure and limited disaster response capacity have increased the impact of such natural disasters.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is also grappling with an intense monsoon season that has triggered flash floods, landslides and overflowing rivers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial rescue officials, heavy rainfall has inundated low-lying areas, damaged homes, roads and bridges, and disrupted traffic in several districts, including Swat, Dir, Chitral, Shangla, Buner and Malakand.

Local media reported that swollen rivers and mountain streams have swept away vehicles and damaged agricultural land, while rescue teams have evacuated residents from flood-prone areas. Authorities have issued fresh flood alerts for vulnerable districts as more heavy rainfall is forecast over the coming days.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that continued monsoon rains could trigger additional flash floods in hilly catchments, urban flooding in major cities and landslides in mountainous regions, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from fast-flowing rivers and streams.

Disaster management authorities in both Afghanistan and Pakistan said emergency teams remain on high alert as unstable weather conditions persist across the region.