Flash floods late Wednesday killed at least 80 people and left a hundred more missing in Nurestan, a Taliban-stronghold in Afghanistan. About 300 homes in one village alone were completely destroyed, catching villagers off guard because they were sleeping, according to Hafiz Abdul Qayyum, the governor of Nurestan. Officials worry the death toll could surpass 200 people, with aid agencies finding it difficult to gain access to the region. Afghanistan is warming faster than the world average, and flooding now routinely harms lives every summer especially due to the poor infrastructure. The floods are adding to the suffering in Afghanistan, where fighting between government and Taliban forces has intensified since international troops began withdrawing in May. (Washington Post $, New York Times $)