Massive Southeast Asia floods kill hundreds, Indonesia hit hardest
Monsoon rains and storms trigger severe floods across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, killing hundreds and displacing thousands as rescue efforts intensify.
Heavy monsoon rains and rare tropical storms have sparked one of the region's most severe flood seasons in years. Officials report hundreds dead or missing across Southeast Asia as rescue teams race to reach affected communities.
Indonesia: Sumatra bears the brunt
On the island of Sumatra, the confirmed death toll rose to 442, with the figure climbing past 300 earlier on Sunday. Evacuation drives continue, though major roads remain cut and communications and electricity are only partially restored. A rare tropical cyclone named Senyar amplified floods and landslides, sweeping away homes and submerging thousands of buildings. Residents describe water rising so fast that streets turned into rivers within moments, forcing families to seek higher ground.
In West Sumatra and Aceh, residents recount losing homes and belongings as floodwaters surged. Some survivors were swept off their foundations, clinging to remnants of their properties before being rescued.
Rescue operations face weather-related hurdles, and while tens of thousands have been evacuated, hundreds remain stranded in hard-hit areas such as Tapanuli. Authorities are pressing for a national disaster declaration to speed up relief and coordination.
Thailand and neighbours grappling with record floods
Thailand's Songkhla province reported water levels up to about 3 meters (10 feet) in some areas, with the overall death toll reaching 145 across 10 flooded provinces. Hat Yai, a major city in the south, endured the heaviest rainfall in centuries, and morgues at a local hospital were overwhelmed, prompting authorities to move bodies to refrigerated trucks. The government has announced relief measures, including compensation of up to 2 million baht for households that lost loved ones.
A Hat Yai resident told INLIBER that help arrived late for many families as the floods unfolded, leaving communities desperate for basic supplies in the initial days.