Torrential rains and landslides have claimed over 600 lives across three countries in Southeast Asia, officials reported on Sunday. Rescue and relief operations continue for tens of thousands of displaced residents.
Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia faced severe devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait. The storm brought heavy rainfall and strong winds for a week. Indonesia reported 435 deaths, Thailand 170, and Malaysia three fatalities.
Authorities in Southeast Asia are still struggling to access many flood-hit areas, even as water levels slowly recede. Over four million people have been affected by the disaster, including nearly three million in southern Thailand and 1.1 million in western Indonesia. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated to safer areas.
In Indonesia, the death toll in West Sumatra surged to 435 as officials collected casualty reports. Landslides and flooding devastated three provinces, leaving many areas cut off due to blocked roads.
Damage to communication infrastructure has made coordination difficult. Rescue teams have used helicopters to deliver aid to isolated communities. Afrianti, a resident of Padang city, told Reuters her home and business were completely destroyed, leaving her family to live beside a single remaining wall.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported 170 deaths and 102 injuries, with Songkhla Province hardest hit. Hat Yai city recorded 335 mm (13 inches) of rainfall in a single day, the highest in 300 years.
In Malaysia, about 18,700 people remain in evacuation centers. Meteorological authorities have lifted storm warnings, forecasting clear skies. Malaysia’s foreign ministry advised citizens in West Sumatra to register with local consulates for assistance after a Malaysian national went missing in a landslide.
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These floods and landslides in Southeast Asia have highlighted the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Governments and rescue agencies continue to provide relief and work tirelessly to support affected communities while monitoring further weather developments.
