Asia devastated by deadly cyclones and monsoon rains like a tsunami

Last week, Wassana Suthi struggled to keep a nursing home operational as floodwaters engulfed Hat Yai in southern Thailand, leaving the facility isolated except for a helicopter delivering emergency supplies to the roof. Hat Yai is among hundreds of communities across Southeast Asia suffering from the combined impact of cyclonic storms and monsoon rains, which have triggered deadly floods and landslides from Indonesia to Sri Lanka.

According to a tally by CNN based on national disaster agencies, at least 1,250 people have died across the affected region. Hundreds remain missing, and more than one million individuals have been displaced. Rescue teams continue to navigate debris and restore connections to isolated communities, with officials warning that the death toll could increase further.

In Hat Yai, a key transport and trade center in Thailands Songkhla province, floodwaters rose to heights of eight feet. Suthi, her husband, and their team of 10 staff members, along with bed-ridden patients, were trapped inside, fearful of the worsening situation.

The rain was so intense, leaving us unable to leave the house, Suthi recalled. The flooding first affected the ground floor, forcing residents to move upstairs, and then cut off the main electricity supply. The team relied on battery power to keep oxygen tanks operational. For several days, they worked by candlelight, awaiting aid from a Thai Army helicopter, which delivered food to the roof.

Once waters receded over the weekend, the city was left covered in mud and debris. Suthi described the scene: People lined up for food, searched for lost relatives, and abandoned cars littered the streets. It felt like an apocalyptic movie. The staff has been occupied with cleanup, but Suthi remains especially concerned about securing liquid food supplies for patients requiring tube feeding.

Thailand has reported 181 deaths from the floods, most in Songkhla province. Neighboring countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have also been severely affected. In Indonesia, 686 fatalities and 476 missing persons were reported after Cyclone Senyar triggered landslides and flooding on Sumatra, known for its rainforests, volcanoes, and endangered orangutans.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka faces its own catastrophe from Cyclone Ditwah, resulting in the worst flooding in a decade. The death toll has reached 410, with 336 missing, as reported by the Disaster Management Center. Indian military helicopters and ships have been deployed to assist with rescue operations and deliver humanitarian aid. Rescues have included nationals from multiple countries, including India, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Pakistan has also sent military assistance.

Back in Thailand, Suthi continues to cope with the aftermath and worries about future storms. It has never been this severe, she said. Everyone this year says it felt like a tsunami.

Author: Sophia Brooks