Floods in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka Exceed 900 Deaths
The death toll from catastrophic flooding that has struck vast areas of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka has risen to at least 940, with several hundred still missing. Authorities in these Asian countries are working to clear roads and debris while searching for missing persons following torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia, by far the hardest hit, reports at least 442 fatalities, with 402 people still unaccounted for, according to the latest update from the disaster management agency.
In Thailand, where at least 162 people have died in one of the worst floods of the decade, authorities continue to distribute aid to tens of thousands of affected individuals.
In Malaysia, floods that have inundated large areas of the northern state of Perlis have resulted in two deaths.
In South Asia, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka reported on Sunday that at least 334 people have died following a week of heavy rains caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with another 400 still missing.
Warships Deployed
In Indonesia, at least two cities in the hardest-hit island of Sumatra remained inaccessible as of Sunday, prompting authorities to send two warships from Jakarta to deliver aid.
"Two cities require special attention due to their isolation, namely Central Tapanuli and Sibolga," stated Suharyanto, head of the national disaster management agency, adding that the warships are expected to reach Sibolga on Monday.
In the village of Sungai Nyalo, approximately 100 km from West Sumatra's capital Padang, floodwaters had largely receded by Sunday, leaving homes, vehicles, and crops covered in thick gray mud.
"Most villagers chose to stay; they did not want to abandon their homes," said Idris, 55, who, like many Indonesians, goes by a single name.
In Thailand, authorities continue to search for the many missing, and the government has implemented relief measures for those affected by the floods, including compensation of up to two million baht (approximately €53,000) for families who have lost members.
However, criticism of Thailand's flood response has increased, leading to the suspension of two local officials.
"The Greatest Disaster in Our History"
In Sri Lanka, as Ditwah moved towards India on Saturday, entire areas in the north of the capital, Colombo, were flooded on Sunday, affecting more than one million people.
"Although the cyclone has left us, heavy rains upstream are now flooding low-lying areas along the Kelani River," a DMC official stated.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday, granting extensive powers to manage the crisis. The military has been deployed to assist in relief efforts.
"We are facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history," the president stated in a national address on Sunday. "We will build a nation better than what existed before."
The losses and damages are the worst since the devastating Asian tsunami in 2004, which claimed around 31,000 lives and left over a million homeless.
"My house is completely flooded; I don’t know where to go, but I hope to find safe shelter for my family," said Selvi, a 46-year-old resident of Colombo’s suburbs, as she carried four bags of belongings.
Sri Lanka has issued an appeal for international aid for approximately 833,000 displaced individuals, in addition to the 122,000 people accommodated in temporary shelters.
According to authorities, about a third of the population is still without electricity and running water.
Climate change has affected storm patterns, including the duration and intensity of rainfall, leading to heavier downpours, flash floods, and stronger wind gusts.
