Rising Death Toll Across the Region
Officials in Indonesia report 442 deaths after massive floods and landslides on Sumatra. The number passed 300 early on Sunday. Rescue teams continue evacuations. Major roads remain blocked. Power and internet work only partially. Monsoon rains and tropical storms worsen conditions across South East Asia. Malaysia and Thailand also report hundreds of dead and missing. Millions feel the impact. Thailand currently confirms 170 dead. Malaysia reports two deaths in Perlis state.
Widespread Destruction in Indonesia
Sri Lanka reports nearly 160 deaths after extreme weather caused floods and landslides. A rare storm named Cyclone Senyar triggered catastrophic landslides in Indonesia. Floodwaters swept away homes and submerged thousands of buildings. A resident in Aceh said the current rushed through streets within seconds and poured into houses. She fled with her grandmother to higher ground. She returned the next day and found her home completely underwater. Another resident in West Sumatra said the water swallowed his house. He held on to a clothesline until rescuers arrived. A man in Bireuen told a news agency he tried to save his clothes, but his house collapsed. Bad weather hampers rescue efforts. Tens of thousands have been evacuated. Hundreds remain stranded, according to the disaster agency. In Tapanuli, desperate residents raided shops for food. Pressure on Jakarta grows as many demand a national disaster declaration for Sumatra to allow a faster response.
Thailand Faces Historic Rainfall
In Thailand’s southern Songkhla province, water rose three metres. At least 145 people died in one of the worst floods in a decade. Ten provinces remain affected. More than 3.8 million people suffer from the impact, the government said. Hat Yai recorded 335 millimetres of rain in a single day, the highest level in 300 years. As waters fell, the death toll rose further. A Hat Yai hospital moved bodies to refrigerated trucks after its morgue overflowed. A resident said she spent seven days trapped in the water. She said no agency came to help. The government promised compensation of up to two million baht for families who lost relatives.
Malaysia and Sri Lanka Also Hit Hard
Malaysia reports fewer deaths, but the damage remains severe. Parts of Perlis state stay underwater. Tens of thousands live in shelters. Sri Lanka struggles with Cyclone Ditwah and confirms at least 193 deaths. More than 200 people remain missing, according to the disaster centre. The government declared a state of emergency. More than 15,000 homes were destroyed. Around 78,000 people moved into temporary shelters. A third of the country has no power or running water.
What Fuels the Extreme Weather
Meteorologists link the situation to the interaction between Typhoon Koto and the rare Cyclone Senyar. Koto moved over the Philippines and now heads toward Vietnam. Three people already died there. One person remains missing. The region experiences monsoon rains each year between June and September. Experts warn that climate change intensifies storms. They say it increases extreme weather, heavier rain, stronger winds and faster floods.
