Rescue workers have on Thursday searched for bodies in the debris of collapsed houses after flash floods caused by heavy rains killed not less than 162 people in Afghanistan.

About 100 people died in the city of Charikar north of Kabul when the flood Tuesday night swept across the city and caused hundreds of buildings to collapse.

Abdul Ghayor, a labourer working in the capital, said he had rushed back to Charikar to look for his family only to find his house had been swept away. In his worlds to newsmen, “My entire family is gone,” adding that 10 relatives had died and one was missing.

Many residents, today used spades and shovels, joining in the rescue operation, clearing piles of rubble as they searched for bodies.

Safiullah Safi, a community leader, reported that most of the homes in his central neighbourhood had been destroyed as he said “It is a catastrophe here with so many people dead and missing, including many children.”

Qasim Haidary, a senior official from the ministry of disaster management, who said the extent of overall damage was still being assessed, but about 200 houses had been completely destroyed and 600 livestock killed in Parwan province, of which Charikar is the capital added that about 1,000 families in the province had been given food and shelter but called on international relief organisations for help.