At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 remain missing after torrential rains triggered devastating flash floods in eastern Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate said on Monday.

The worst-hit area was Parun, the capital of Nuristan province, where floodwaters swept through residential neighborhoods, destroying homes, businesses, and public buildings.

According to officials, the city's mayor is among those reported missing, while more than 80 people have been injured in the disaster.

Authorities warned that the final death toll could rise significantly as search and rescue operations continue.

The Islamic Emirate said the floods are expected to result in "severe financial and human losses," as emergency teams work to locate survivors and assess the full extent of the damage.

Videos circulating on social media showed widespread destruction across Parun, with buildings heavily damaged, roads washed away, and debris covering large sections of the town.

Ashiqullah Safi, head of the local non-governmental organization Shpoul, said the floods had "completely destroyed the municipality" of Parun.

He noted that residents had been searching through the rubble with limited equipment while massive boulders and debris left behind by the floodwaters complicated rescue efforts.

The Islamic Emirate's Meteorology Department has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall and the possibility of additional flooding across 10 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces through Wednesday.

Authorities have urged residents living near rivers and in flood-prone areas to take precautionary measures and avoid locations at risk of further flooding.

Afghanistan remains one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, frequently experiencing natural disasters including flash floods, droughts, and severe storms.

Environmental experts have also warned that widespread deforestation and illegal logging in Nuristan and other provinces have significantly increased the risk of flash flooding by reducing the land's natural capacity to absorb heavy rainfall.

Nuristan, renowned for its forested mountains, rivers, and natural beauty, was designated a national park in 2020.

The latest disaster comes only months after severe flooding struck northern Afghanistan in April, killing at least 150 people, according to official figures, while the World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that the death toll exceeded 300.

Emergency response teams continue search operations in Nuristan as authorities assess the humanitarian impact and work to assist affected communities. (ILKHA)