00:00Torrential monsoon rains and sudden flash floods have struck eastern Afghanistan,
00:04leaving a heavy and tragic toll in their wake. According to local authorities and disaster
00:10management officials, at least 20 people have lost their lives, more than 80 others have
00:15sustained injuries, and over 100 people remain missing in the hardest-hit regions.
00:20The worst of the destruction is centered in Paran, the capital of Nuristan province.
00:26Floodwaters tore directly through the city center, completely devastating homes,
00:30local markets, and essential municipal buildings. Reports indicate that even the local municipality
00:36office and prominent community figures, including the city's mayor, are among those currently listed
00:42as missing. Rescue operations on the ground face severe challenges, with local residents forced to
00:48search through heavy debris and massive boulders without access to proper equipment. Environmental
00:54experts point out that this disaster is part of a broader, compounding crisis.
00:59Afghanistan is among the nation's most vulnerable to the extreme impacts of climate change,
01:05enduring recurring cycles of severe droughts and sudden storms.
01:08This vulnerability is heavily intensified by decades of conflict that have strained local
01:13infrastructure, alongside widespread illegal logging and deforestation in provinces like Nuristan,
01:19which strips the landscape of its natural ability to absorb heavy rainfall.
01:23In response to the ongoing threat, the National Meteorology Department has issued urgent warnings
01:29for continued heavy rainfall and flash flooding across 10 of the country's 34 provinces.
01:35Authorities have strongly advised residents to avoid vulnerable riverbanks and flood-prone zones
01:40as emergency teams struggle to reach isolated areas and continue the search for the missing.
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