Severe Floods in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand Result in Over 1,000 Fatalities

Devastating floods and landslides have resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia in the wake of severe tropical storms. Rescue operations are currently ongoing to assist thousands affected by these extreme weather events.

On Monday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in North Sumatra and expressed that the government's primary focus was to deliver essential aid as quickly as possible.

"There are several isolated villages that, God willing, we can reach," he stated, noting that helicopters and planes would be deployed to facilitate relief efforts. President Prabowo is facing increasing calls to declare a national emergency due to the floods and landslides that have already claimed at least 604 lives, with hundreds still unaccounted for.

In contrast to his Sri Lankan counterpart, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has sought international assistance, President Prabowo has not yet made a public appeal for external help. The Indonesian government has dispatched two hospital ships and three warships loaded with supplies to the most affected regions, where many roads have become impassable.

In the village of Sungai Nyalo, located approximately 100 kilometres from the provincial capital of Padang, floodwaters had receded by Sunday, leaving homes, vehicles, and agricultural land covered in thick mud.

Idris, a local resident, shared his perspective with the AFP news agency: "Most villagers chose to stay; they didn’t want to leave their houses behind."

Meanwhile, the situation in Sri Lanka has prompted the government to request international aid as military helicopters are deployed to reach individuals stranded due to flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Authorities have confirmed at least 335 fatalities, with many more missing.

A tragic incident was reported involving a helicopter pilot who died while attempting an emergency landing during a mission to assist flood-affected communities near Lunuwila, north of Colombo, according to a statement from Sri Lanka’s Air Force.

As rescue teams work to clear blocked roads in the worst-hit central region, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency and vowed to rebuild the nation. In a national address, he remarked, "We are facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history. Certainly, we will build a better nation than what existed before."

In Thailand, authorities have reported that the death toll from ongoing flooding in the southern part of the country has risen to at least 176 individuals. The government has implemented relief measures, but public criticism regarding the flood response is mounting, leading to the suspension of two local officials for alleged failures in handling the disaster.

In Malaysia, heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding across significant areas of Perlis state, with at least three fatalities reported.

The recent floods and landslides are part of a series of extreme weather events that have plagued Southeast Asia in the past month, following two typhoons in the Philippines that resulted in at least 242 deaths. The flooding in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia was further exacerbated by a rare tropical storm that brought heavy rainfall to Sumatra Island in particular.

Experts suggest that climate change is contributing to the increased intensity and frequency of storms, leading to more significant rainfall due to a warmer atmosphere capable of holding more moisture. As rescue efforts continue across the affected regions, local authorities and organisations are mobilising to provide relief and assistance to those impacted by these devastating events.