Widespread flooding and deadly landslides have swept across Southeast Asia, leaving more than 250 people dead as heavy rains continue to batter the region. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are among the worst-hit countries, with communities struggling to cope after days of relentless downpours.
Southern Thailand has suffered the greatest loss of life. Authorities on Friday confirmed that at least 145 people had died as floodwaters rose rapidly across nine provinces. Entire neighborhoods have been submerged, forcing families to flee to higher ground, rooftops, and temporary shelters.
Paradorn Prissananantakul, director of Thailand’s flood relief operations center, said the country is now preparing to shift into the recovery phase.
“We will now move into the rehabilitation phase and work to restore cities to normal as quickly as possible,” he told AFP.
In neighboring Malaysia, eight states have been hit by severe flooding, displacing tens of thousands of people. Emergency teams have been working non-stop to rescue residents trapped in homes and vehicles as water levels continue to rise.
In Indonesia’s Sumatra island, rescue efforts are underway across 12 cities and districts, where both flooding and landslides have caused heavy destruction. Emergency workers are battling rough terrain, blocked roads, and ongoing rains to reach isolated communities.
The region is used to monsoon rains every year, but the current floods have been made far worse by a tropical storm that recently passed through Southeast Asia. The combination of storm conditions and seasonal rainfall has overwhelmed rivers, drainage systems, and local infrastructure.
With many areas still unreachable and communications cut off, officials warn that the number of deaths may rise even further. Thousands of people remain displaced, and rescue operations are ongoing as weather forecasters predict more rain in the coming days.
The disaster highlights once again how vulnerable Southeast Asia is to climate-related weather extremes, leaving entire communities in urgent need of relief and long-term recovery support.
