Heavy rain and warnings of further flooding dampened the search Tuesday for dozens of residents missing in eastern Afghanistan, after a major deluge smashed through one province killing at least 23 people. Around 100 people are unaccounted for, the national disaster agency and the provincial governor's office said, also updating the death toll from Monday's flood. While dozens of rescuers searched for the missing in Parun, the capital of Nuristan province.

Farid Gul Zaheer, a 34-year-old pharmacist, said he had "never witnessed such a dangerous flood". "It felt like there was an earthquake, and I heard children and people screaming," he told of Monday's flood, after getting injured while trying to flee up the mountain. Toiling under heavy rain, rescuers used their bare hands and wooden poles to search for the missing, while a bulldozer was of limited use in clearing masses of debris. Those killed included Parun Mayor Sayed Ahmad Arhabi, the Nuristan governor's office said.

Describing a "tragic and serious incident", Governor Zain-ul-Abidin Abid vowed all bodies would be recovered by Tuesday evening. Zakirullah Zaki, manager of the Spogmai Hotel, said it felt like "an act of God struck us". "The rest of the hotels, markets, and shops were completely destroyed," the 29-year-old told. The Spogmai was still standing, surrounded by destruction, and the manager's missing younger brother was found.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)