The death toll from massive flooding and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island has surged to 442, with hundreds more still missing as Southeast Asia grapples with one of its worst weather disasters in decades. Entire communities remain cut off, roads have collapsed, and power and internet service are only partially restored as rescue teams struggle against relentless monsoon rains intensified by rare tropical storms.
Authorities say the situation remains critical in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, where millions have been affected by flash floods, deadly mudslides and unprecedented rainfall. In Thailand, at least 170 people have been confirmed dead, while Malaysia has reported casualties in Perlis state. Sri Lanka has also been battered by extreme weather, recording nearly 160 deaths, widespread destruction and more than 78,000 people displaced.
In Indonesia, Cyclone Senyar — an exceptionally rare storm formation in the Malacca Strait — triggered landslides and unleashed torrents of water that swept away homes and submerged thousands of buildings. Residents in Aceh and West Sumatra recount terrifying moments as floodwaters surged within seconds, trapping families before they could escape. In the worst-hit Tapanuli region, survivors have reportedly broken into shops in desperation as food supplies run out.
Search-and-rescue efforts remain hampered by poor weather, with officials saying hundreds of people are still stranded across the island. Tens of thousands have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Pressure is mounting on Jakarta to declare a national disaster to accelerate coordination and relief operations.
Thailand has been struck just as hard. The southern province of Songkhla saw waters rise three metres, killing more than 145 people. Over 3.8 million residents across 10 provinces have been affected. Hat Yai city recorded its heaviest rainfall in 300 years, with 335 mm falling in a single day. The volume of casualties overwhelmed local hospitals, forcing staff to store bodies in refrigerated trucks. Survivors say they waited seven days before receiving help.
Malaysia’s northern Perlis state has also faced widespread destruction, with tens of thousands forced into shelters after entire neighbourhoods were inundated.
Elsewhere in Asia, Sri Lanka is dealing with Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed at least 193 people and left over 200 missing, prompting a national state of emergency. More than 15,000 homes have been destroyed and a third of the country remains without electricity or clean water.
Meteorologists say the unusual combination of Typhoon Koto and Cyclone Senyar may have amplified the region’s already intense monsoon rains. While linking specific weather events directly to climate change remains difficult, scientists warn that warming temperatures are fueling more extreme storms, heavier rainfall and increasingly destructive flooding across the region.