Flooding and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island have claimed at least 417 lives, with hundreds still missing, as torrential rains disrupted electricity, internet services, and major road access across the region.
Cyclone Senyar, a rare tropical storm, caused catastrophic flooding and landslides, sweeping away homes and submerging thousands of buildings, forcing tens of thousands of people into emergency shelters in West Sumatra.
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In Thailand, southern Songkhla province recorded water levels rising up to three meters, resulting in at least 170 deaths, with over 3.8 million people affected across ten provinces and tens of thousands taking refuge in shelters.
Malaysia’s Perlis state also experienced severe flooding, displacing tens of thousands, while Sri Lanka faced Cyclone Ditwah, killing at least 193 people and leaving over 200 missing, prompting a state of emergency declaration.
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Rescue operations have been hindered by ongoing extreme weather, with residents describing houses being swept away within seconds, and some looting shops in heavily flooded areas to find food and essentials.
Meteorologists say the extreme weather may be linked to Typhoon Koto interacting with Cyclone Senyar, illustrating the increasing frequency and intensity of storms in Southeast Asia due to climate change effects.