Newsletters
Torrential monsoon rains and resulting floods have wreaked havoc across Southeast Asia, leaving nearly 1,200 dead and hundreds more missing, as rescue operations continue amid widespread destruction.
Countries most affected include Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia, where millions have been displaced and infrastructure has suffered severe damage.
In Sumatra, Indonesia, continuous heavy rainfall triggered severe floods and landslides. According to the latest update that 712 people have died, the National Disaster Management Agency of Indonesia said on Dec. 2.
The agency said over 500 people were missing and around 1.1 million were affected by the flooding in three provinces on the island.
Sri Lanka has been severely affected by landslides and flash floods, with 410 confirmed fatalities and 367 missing as of Dec. 2. Approximately 1 million people have been impacted.
Rescue operations have been hampered by continued flooding and landslide risks. During an ongoing mission, a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed, killing the pilot and injuring four personnel.
In response, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a nationwide state of emergency and deployed over 20,000 military personnel to assist with rescue and relief efforts.
In southern Thailand, floods have claimed 170 lives and affected over 3.8 million people, including 1.4 million households. The government has declared a state of emergency in Songkhla Province.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that affected citizens will receive compensation, alongside various forms of aid to mitigate the disaster’s impact.
Flooding in seven Malaysian states, Kelantan, Penang, Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Kedah, and Terengganu, has impacted roughly 11,000 people.
Authorities said on Wednesday that 33 people had been killed across seven of these provinces.
Kelantan is the hardest-hit state, with 8,248 people from 3,022 families currently residing in temporary shelters.
1 min read
1 min read
