The death toll from massive flooding and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has climbed to 442, with hundreds of people still missing. Authorities say major roads are cut, and power and internet services remain only partly restored in many areas.
Monsoon rains made worse by tropical storms have triggered some of the worst flooding in years across South and South East Asia, affecting millions of people. Officials report hundreds more dead and missing in Thailand and Malaysia, while Sri Lanka is also battling deadly floods and mudslides.
In Indonesia, the rare Cyclone Senyar caused destructive landslides and flash floods that swept away homes and submerged thousands of buildings. Survivors in Aceh and West Sumatra describe water surging into streets and houses within seconds, leaving them little time to escape.
Search and rescue teams are struggling with bad weather and damaged infrastructure, even as tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated to safer areas. In the worst hit Tapanuli region, reports say desperate residents have looted shops in search of food.
Pressure is growing on the central government in Jakarta to declare a national disaster for Sumatra, which would unlock more resources and speed up the emergency response. Officials say many communities remain cut off, with limited access to clean water, food and medical care.
In southern Thailand’s Songkhla province, floodwaters reached about 3m and at least 145 people have died in what authorities describe as the worst flooding in a decade. Across 10 affected Thai provinces, more than 3.8 million residents have felt the impact, and morgues in some areas are overwhelmed.
Malaysia’s northern Perlis state has also suffered heavy flooding that forced tens of thousands of people into shelters, though the confirmed death toll there is lower. Large areas remain underwater and damage to homes and infrastructure is extensive.
Sri Lanka has been hit by Cyclone Ditwah, which has caused severe flooding and mudslides and left at least 193 people dead and more than 200 missing. The government has declared a state of emergency, with over 15,000 homes destroyed and some 78,000 people displaced, while about a third of the country has lost power or running water.
Meteorologists say the extreme conditions in the region may be linked to the interaction between Typhoon Koto, which passed over the Philippines towards Vietnam, and the unusual formation of Cyclone Senyar in the narrow Malacca Strait. They note that while single weather events cannot be blamed directly on climate change, warming temperatures are making intense storms and heavy rainfall more likely, increasing the risk of flash floods and strong winds.
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