Tropical storm kills over 600 in Southeast Asia, more than 4 million impacted
The death toll from severe floods and landslides in Southeast Asia has surpassed 600, as torrential rains triggered by a rare tropical storm continued to displace tens of thousands of people across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Relief efforts persisted over the weekend as authorities worked to reach isolated communities cut off by floodwaters and landslides. Indonesia reported 435 deaths, Thailand 170, and Malaysia three, while more than 4 million people across the region have been affected, including nearly 3 million in southern Thailand and 1.1 million in western Indonesia.
In Indonesia, the hardest-hit areas were on the island of Sumatra, where three provinces faced devastating landslides and floods. Many communities remain inaccessible due to blocked roads and damaged telecommunications, forcing relief teams to rely on helicopters to deliver aid. In Palembayan, West Sumatra, survivors were seen awaiting food deliveries in open fields after homes were swept away. Afrianti, 41, recounted fleeing rising waters only to return and find her home and shop destroyed, leaving her family of nine to shelter beside the lone remaining wall of their house. Authorities reported 406 people missing and 213,000 displaced.
Thailand experienced record rainfall in southern provinces, with Songkhla hardest hit, recording 131 deaths. Hat Yai received 335 mm (13 inches) of rain in a single day, the highest in 300 years. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported 102 injuries and continued efforts to support affected residents. In Malaysia, about 18,700 people remained in evacuation centers after heavy rain and wind last week. Authorities lifted storm warnings and forecast clearer skies, while also advising citizens in West Sumatra to register with the local consulate for assistance following reports of missing nationals, including a 30-year-old Malaysian, following a landslide.
Meanwhile, across the Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka faced another deadly storm, with a cyclone killing 153 people, leaving 191 missing, and affecting more than half a million people nationwide. The region continues to grapple with the aftermath of extreme weather, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated rescue and recovery operations.
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