Southeast Asia is grappling with one of its most severe weather crises in decades, as relentless monsoon rains, intensified by tropical storms, have led to widespread flooding and devastating landslides across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Hundreds are confirmed dead, with fears the toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue for numerous missing individuals.
On Indonesia’s Sumatra island, the death toll has tragically surpassed 300, and dozens remain unaccounted for. Evacuation efforts are ongoing, hampered by impassable major roads and only partial restoration of internet and electricity services. The region faced catastrophic landslides and widespread inundation due to an exceptionally rare tropical cyclone, named Cyclone Senyar. This cyclone submerged thousands of buildings and swept away homes.
One resident in Indonesia’s Aceh Province, Arini Amalia, described the harrowing speed of the disaster, explaining that the current rapidly engulfed streets and houses within seconds. She and her grandmother sought refuge at a relative’s home on higher ground, only to find their own home completely submerged the following day. Meri Osman, whose home in West Sumatra was quickly flooded, recounted being “swept away by the current” before managing to cling to a clothesline until rescuers reached him. Another resident from Bireuen in Aceh province lamented, “During the flood, everything was gone. I wanted to save my clothes, but my house came down.” The Indonesian disaster agency reports that tens of thousands have been evacuated, but hundreds remain stranded, with the adverse weather severely hindering rescue missions. In Tapanuli, one of the hardest-hit areas, residents have reportedly resorted to ransacking grocery stores in a desperate search for food, intensifying pressure on Jakarta to declare a national disaster in Sumatra to streamline the response.
Thailand has also been severely impacted, with at least 160 deaths reported by Saturday across the ten affected provinces. Over 3.8 million people have been affected by the floods. Songkhla province in the south saw water levels rise by three meters, contributing to at least 145 fatalities in one of the worst floods there in a decade. The city of Hat Yai recorded an unprecedented 335mm of rainfall in a single day, the heaviest in 300 years. As floodwaters receded, officials noted a sharp increase in the death toll. At a hospital in Hat Yai, staff were compelled to relocate bodies to refrigerated trucks as the morgue reached capacity. Millenium TV has learned from local residents, such as Thanita Khiawhom of Hat Yai, that many were stranded for extended periods without assistance. The government has pledged relief, including compensation of up to two million baht (approximately $62,000) for households that have lost family members.
Neighboring Malaysia, while reporting a lower death toll of two, has experienced equally devastating damage. Northern Perlis state is largely underwater, forcing tens of thousands into shelters. Elsewhere in Asia, Sri Lanka is battling Cyclone Ditwah, one of its worst weather disasters in recent years, with over 130 people dead and approximately 170 missing. The government has declared a state of emergency, as more than 15,000 homes have been destroyed and around 78,000 people displaced to temporary shelters. Approximately one-third of the country is without electricity or running water.
Meteorologists suggest the extreme weather across Southeast Asia may be a result of the interaction between Typhoon Koto in the Philippines and the rare formation of Cyclone Senyar in the Malacca Strait. While the region experiences an annual monsoon season, climate change is believed to be altering storm patterns, leading to increased intensity and duration of rainfall, flash flooding, and stronger winds.
© Millenium TV
