Over 1,000 dead in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand due to floods

Recent tropical storms have caused widespread flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, resulting in more than 1,000 fatalities and leaving thousands in urgent need of assistance.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited North Sumatra on Monday, emphasizing the government's priority to provide immediate relief. "Several isolated villages remain, and we are committed to reaching them," he said, highlighting the deployment of helicopters and aircraft for rescue operations.

Authorities are under pressure to declare a national emergency, with at least 502 confirmed deaths and hundreds still missing. Unlike Sri Lanka, Prabowo has not publicly requested international support. Indonesia has dispatched two hospital ships and three warships carrying aid to regions where roads remain largely impassable.

In Sungai Nyalo village, 100km from West Sumatras capital Padang, floodwaters have mostly receded, leaving homes, vehicles, and crops covered in thick mud. Local resident Idris, 55, told AFP that many villagers chose to stay in their homes despite the disaster.

In Sri Lanka, the government has requested international aid while deploying military helicopters to rescue people stranded by flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Official reports indicate at least 335 deaths, with numerous individuals still missing. A helicopter pilot lost his life during an emergency mission in Lunuwila, north of Colombo.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who declared a state of emergency, vowed to rebuild after calling the disaster the largest in the nations history. "We will emerge stronger and construct a better nation than before," he stated.

In Thailand, the southern region has reported at least 176 fatalities due to ongoing floods. Relief operations are underway, though public dissatisfaction has led to the suspension of two local officials for inadequate responses.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in Perlis state, claiming at least three lives. Thousands of residents have been affected, with homes submerged under rising waters.

This series of floods and landslides adds to recent extreme weather events in Southeast Asia, including two destructive typhoons in the Philippines last month, which killed over 240 people. The recent storms in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia were intensified by an unusual tropical storm over Sumatra, highlighting the growing impact of climate change in increasing the severity and frequency of heavy rainfall events.

Author: Sophia Brooks