Residents prepare for further destruction following heavy rains that have claimed over 1,300 lives and left hundreds unaccounted for: 'Biggest and most difficult... in our history'

Sri Lanka is bracing for another surge of heavy rainfall just days after catastrophic floods and landslides claimed over 1,300 lives across southern Asia. In parts of North Sumatra, Indonesia, more than 31 inches of rain fell within four days during late November, hitting Southeast Asia with severe weather.

In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah has caused 334 confirmed deaths as of Sunday, with hundreds still reported missing, according to NBC News. By Monday night, The Guardian updated the death toll to 366, warning that the numbers are "likely to rise over the coming days" and emphasizing that "millions more have been affected by devastating floods and landslides."

The country's meteorological department has issued a severe warning for northern provinces, forecasting "spells of showers" that could bring heavy rainfall in the coming days. Forecasters urged residents to "take necessary measures to minimize the hazards caused by temporary strong winds and lightning that may occur with thundershowers."

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the situation as "the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history" and promised, "Certainly, we will build a better nation than what existed before."

The region has been struck by a combination of intense monsoon rains and tropical cyclones. Indonesia's meteorology agency, Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG), called the development of Cyclone Senyar, just north of the equator, a "rare" phenomenon. "Indonesia's location near the equator theoretically makes it less prone to the formation or passage of tropical cyclones," said Andri Ramdhani of BMKG. He added that such cyclones are becoming less rare, with several causing significant damage over the past five years.

According to Climate Diplomacy, Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Their report highlights that "many climate-related health risks, including heat stress and vector-borne diseases, are projected to worsen over the short to medium term." Vulnerable groups, such as outdoor workers, the elderly, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting conditions, are particularly at risk in northern and eastern regions.

International research indicates that tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are now forming closer to coastlines, intensifying faster, and lingering longer over land. Scientists from Rowan University, Nanyang Technological University, and the University of Pennsylvania analyzed data from the past three centuries and concluded that climate change is reshaping cyclone behavior. Warmer oceans are contributing to stronger, more destructive storms.

Author: Sophia Brooks