Severe flooding and landslides have killed at least 80 people and left dozens missing across parts of Asia, in what officials say is among the region’s worst weather disasters in recent years. Millions have been affected across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia as torrential monsoon rains continue to inundate large areas, destroying homes, cutting off roads and displacing communities.
In Indonesia, authorities confirmed 19 deaths in North Sumatra after days of unrelenting rain triggered flash floods and landslides. At least 21 others remain missing, with access to remote areas blocked by debris and damaged roads. “This flood is truly severe,” said Ibnu Sina, a resident of Lhokseumawe in Aceh province, where thousands have been forced to evacuate. “The main highway is impassable and the region is completely paralysed.”
The same weather system has caused catastrophic flooding in southern Thailand, where 33 people have died across seven provinces. The city of Hat Yai, near the Malaysian border, has been one of the worst hit, with residents stranded on rooftops as floodwaters rose to the ceilings of homes. Some areas remain inaccessible despite water levels beginning to recede.
In Malaysia, heavy rainfall inundated several northern states. Civil defence forces used boats to rescue residents trapped in waist-deep waters in Perlis, where two people have been confirmed dead. More rain is forecast over the coming days. “It rose fast. I only managed to move the electrical items. Everything else, I left behind,” said Ali Mat Isa, a resident evacuated from Kangar.
Sri Lanka has also been hit by deadly flooding and landslides, with at least 56 people killed and 21 missing. Thousands have been displaced and key transport routes have been cut off. The government has issued red-level flood warnings for low-lying areas, including the capital Colombo, as rivers continue to rise.
Experts say climate change has intensified the annual monsoon, producing more extreme rainfall across the region. “We are anticipating that things are only going to get worse from here on,” said Renard Siew, a climate adviser based in Kuala Lumpur.
Governments across the affected countries have deployed thousands of troops and rescue workers, with relief efforts complicated by continued bad weather. Regional officials have warned that more flooding and landslides are possible as the storm system moves west towards India.