In the past week, more than 600 people have died in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains. As of the 30th local time, according to Spanish media EFE and others, 303 people have been killed and over 100 are missing in the northern region of Sumatra, Indonesia, due to floods and landslides following recent heavy rain. The North Sumatra province suffered the most with 166 deaths, and in West Sumatra, 90 people lost their lives. In Aceh province, where landslides engulfed three villages after heavy rain, 47 deaths have been reported. Over 59,600 households in these provinces lost their homes to floods and sought refuge in temporary shelters.
Suharjanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency, stated, “Many bodies have yet to be found,” indicating that the death toll is expected to rise.
In southern Thailand, which experienced record rainfall in the last 300 years, floods have claimed 162 lives across 8 provinces. In Sri Lanka, a South Asian island nation in the Indian Ocean, recent floods and landslides have resulted in 153 deaths and 191 missing as of today. More than 20,000 homes have been damaged, affecting approximately 790,000 people, with 108,000 taking shelter in 716 evacuation centers. The Sri Lankan government declared a state of emergency yesterday and appealed for international aid.
Such frequent heavy rains in Southeast Asia have resulted in repeated floods and landslides, causing significant human casualties. The recent heavy rains in places like Indonesia and Thailand are attributed to an unusual tropical storm in the Strait of Malacca. Weather experts diagnose that storms and tropical cyclones have become more frequent and intense due to climate change, leading to increased damage.
[Photo Credit: EPA=Yonhap News / Provided by Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency]
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