Floods in Southeast Asia: Over 300 Dead in Thailand and Indonesia
Flooding in Southeast Asia has resulted in over 300 fatalities as of Friday, with at least 145 deaths reported in Thailand and 174 in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, similar scenes of flooded cities, populations trapped by rising waters, and landslides have emerged after days of relentless rain.
On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the floods and landslides have claimed at least 174 lives, with 80 people reported missing, according to Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). He warned that the death toll could rise further as some areas remain inaccessible and there may be more victims. Earlier reports had indicated 111 fatalities.
"Our priority remains evacuation and assistance. We hope the weather improves so we can send helicopters to the affected areas," said Ferry Walintukan, a spokesperson for the North Sumatra police, as many roads remain impassable.
In Medan, North Sumatra, an AFP photographer observed that the floodwaters were waist-deep.
In West Sumatra, Misniati, 53, who, like many Indonesians, only has one name, recounted her terrifying struggle against the rising waters to reach her husband at home.
"I saw the street was flooded. I tried to get home to warn my husband, but the water was already up to my waist," she told AFP.
She battled against the current that threatened to sweep her away and arrived home as the water rose to her chest.
"We didn’t sleep all night; we just monitored the water level," she added.
Overcrowded Morgue
In Thailand, "the total number of deaths in the southern provinces has reached 145," announced Siripong Angkasakulkiat, a government spokesperson on Friday afternoon, noting that over 100 people had died in the province of Songkhla alone.
The death toll in Thailand, which was previously reported as 55, has nearly tripled. The South has been the hardest hit, with residents in Hat Yai clinging to rooftops while awaiting rescue by boat.
More than 100 people have died in Songkhla province, where the main morgue receiving bodies from the flooding has reached capacity, according to a local hospital representative.
"The morgue has exceeded its capacity, so we need more space," Charn, a morgue official who only provided his first name, told AFP.
On Thursday, residents described a rapid rise in floodwaters. "The water rose to the ceiling of the second floor," recounted Kamban Wongpanya, 67, who was rescued by boat.
Chayaphol Promkleng, a shopkeeper, initially thought his store would be spared, as the water was only at his ankles.
However, by the next day, the water level had risen to his waist. "I couldn't do anything. I fled the store to save my life," he said.
Rachane Remsringam, a shop owner, reported that his general goods store, Madam Yong, was looted and vandalized by flood victims.
"Many kitchen products and food items were stolen, including sugar and milk," he told AFP, adding that damages amount to several hundred thousand dollars.
The government announced on Friday the suspension of the district chief of Hat Yai, accused of failing to respond adequately to the flooding.
Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries are prone to flooding and landslides during the rainy season, typically from November to April. However, monsoon rains have been exacerbated by a tropical storm that swept through the region.
Climate change has also intensified storms, resulting in heavier rainfall, flash floods, and stronger gusts.
A warmer climate holds more moisture, leading to more intense rain events, while warmer oceans can amplify the strength of storm systems.
In Malaysia, floods that submerged vast areas of northern Perlis state have resulted in two deaths.
"Climatologists have already warned that extreme weather events… will continue to worsen as temperatures rise," explained Renard Siew, a climate change advisor at the Center for Governance and Political Science in Malaysia. "This is exactly what we are witnessing."
