Floods Claim Over 600 Lives in Southeast Asia

Floods resulting from torrential rains in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia have led to over 600 deaths as of Saturday, according to the latest figures from local authorities.

Across the three countries, images of flooded cities, populations trapped by rising waters, and landslides caused by the deluge have emerged. The Indonesian disaster agency reported more than 300 fatalities, while the Thai government confirmed 162 deaths in the southern part of the country, and Malaysian authorities noted two fatalities.

In Indonesia, 166 people lost their lives in North Sumatra, 47 in Aceh, and 90 in West Sumatra, as announced by Suharyanto, the head of the agency.

On Saturday, rescue teams were trying to reach the most severely affected areas of Sumatra Island, where about 270 people are still missing.

"This is the worst flood that has ever occurred in our village," said Novia, 30, a resident of Pidie, Aceh, who is clearing her home "completely inundated with mud." "There have been floods before... but it was never like this."

In Thailand, the total death toll across the seven affected provinces stands at 162, including 126 in Songkhla, the hardest-hit area, as stated by government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat during a press conference on Saturday.

Water levels have risen up to three meters in this region, which has experienced one of the worst flooding episodes in the last decade.

To assist overwhelmed morgues, refrigerated trucks have been mobilized to store the victims' bodies.

Official Apologies

On Friday, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited a shelter in the severely affected Hat Yai district.

"I truly must apologize for allowing this to happen while I am in government," he said on AmarinTV.

"The next step is to prevent the situation from worsening," the leader added, explaining that cleanup operations in the district would take two weeks.

The government announced compensation of up to $62,000 for families affected by these disasters.

Public discontent is rising in Thailand over the management of the situation, with two local officials suspended for alleged negligence.

In neighboring Malaysia, two individuals were killed due to flooding in Perlis state (north).

The monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September, often brings heavy rainfall to the region, posing risks of landslides and flash floods.

In Indonesia and Thailand, the human toll from these floods is among the worst in recent years.

Additionally, in South Asia, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency in Sri Lanka on Saturday following a week of torrential rains.

Call for Solidarity in Sri Lanka

The island's Disaster Management Center reported at least 153 deaths from floods and landslides, with nearly 900,000 displaced. Over 190 people are still missing.

The government has sought international assistance and called on its citizens abroad to make donations.

The military rescued 69 passengers from a bus, including a German tourist, who were stranded in Anuradhapura district in the central-northern part of the island after a 24-hour operation involving a helicopter and naval boats.

W. M. Shantha, a passenger, recounted that they were saved by three naval personnel who helped them climb onto the roof of a house after tying ropes to allow them to cross the floodwaters.

"We were very lucky; while we were on the roof, part of it collapsed... three women fell into the water, but they were helped back onto the roof," Shantha told reporters at Nochchiyagama Hospital.

Heavy rainfall was brought by Cyclone Ditwah, which is moving toward India. The worst floods of the century in Sri Lanka in 2003 resulted in 254 deaths.

According to scientists, human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent, deadly, and destructive.

For every additional degree, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall consequences, experts warn.