Search and rescue operations are intensifying across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia as Southeast Asia faces one of its most severe weather crises in decades. Unprecedented monsoon rains, intensified by tropical storms, have resulted in catastrophic flooding, leaving hundreds dead and thousands more still missing, with millions significantly impacted across the region.
On Indonesia’s Sumatra island, the death toll has tragically surpassed 300, and officials fear this number could climb further as dozens remain unaccounted for. Evacuation efforts continue amidst challenging conditions, with major roads impassable and internet and electricity services only partially restored. Millenium TV has learned of harrowing accounts from affected residents, including Arini Amalia from Aceh Province, who described the rapid current engulfing streets and homes in mere seconds. She recounted returning the next day to find her house completely submerged. Another resident, Meri Osman, shared his experience of being swept away by the current in West Sumatra, clinging to a clothesline until rescue. A resident in Bireuen stated, “During the flood, everything was gone. I wanted to save my clothes, but my house came down.” The adverse weather conditions have hindered rescue operations, leaving hundreds stranded even as tens of thousands have been evacuated. Reports from Tapanuli, a severely affected area, indicate residents have resorted to ransacking grocery stores in search of food, prompting calls for Jakarta to declare a national disaster to expedite and coordinate relief efforts.
Thailand has also been severely impacted, with 160 reported deaths across ten southern provinces as of Saturday, affecting over 3.8 million people. Songkhla province saw water levels rise by three meters, marking one of the worst floods in a decade. The city of Hat Yai experienced an extraordinary 335mm of rainfall in a single day, a record for 300 years. As floodwaters receded, officials noted a sharp increase in fatalities. At one hospital in Hat Yai, staff were compelled to relocate bodies to refrigerated trucks due to an overwhelmed morgue. A Hat Yai resident, Thanita Khiawhom, expressed her distress, stating, “We were stuck in the water for seven days and no agency came to help.” The government has since pledged relief measures, including compensation of up to two million baht (approximately $62,000 USD) for households that have lost family members.
In neighboring Malaysia, while the death toll is lower at two reported fatalities, the damage is equally devastating. Northern Perlis state has been particularly hard-hit, with extensive flooding forcing tens of thousands into temporary shelters. Separately, Sri Lanka has been battered by Cyclone Ditwah, reporting over 130 deaths and approximately 170 people missing. The government has declared a state of emergency, with more than 15,000 homes destroyed and around 78,000 individuals seeking refuge in shelters. Millenium TV can confirm that about a third of the country is currently without electricity or running water.
Meteorologists suggest the extreme weather across Southeast Asia may stem from the interaction of Typhoon Koto in the Philippines and the unusual formation of Cyclone Senyar in the Malacca Strait. While the region experiences an annual monsoon season, typically from June to September, climate change is believed to have intensified storm patterns, leading to heavier rainfall, flash flooding, and stronger winds. Millenium TV continues to monitor developments as rescue and recovery efforts proceed.
© Millenium TV
