Flash floods caused by torrential rain in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, July 20, killed at least 20 people and left more than 100 missing, the Taliban government said. Parun, the capital of Nuristan province, suffered the brunt of the damage, with the city's mayor among those missing. More than 80 residents have also been wounded, BBC reported. Taliban officials say they expect severe financial and human losses. Footage posted on social media shows homes, shops and municipal buildings severely destroyed. Afghanistan is among the nations most vulnerable to the extreme impact of climate change and natural disasters, including storms and droughts. The recent flood completely destroyed the municipality of Parun, Ashiqullah Safi, who leads local NGO Shpoul, told AFP news agency. Residents had been searching through the debris without proper equipment, he said, after floodwaters left large boulders scattered around the town. The Taliban's meteorology department has warned of heavy rain and flooding to continue in 10 of the country's 34 provinces through Wednesday, and officials have advised residents to avoid approaching riverbanks and flood-prone areas. Read the full story here.
