Cyclone and Monsoon Rains Cause Worst Damage in 20 Years
Sri Lanka: Worst Impact in Two Decades
Rising Death Toll in Indonesia and Thailand
In the face of combined cyclonic activity and monsoon rains, Southeast Asia is experiencing one of its most severe natural disasters in decades. According to AFP and other sources on December 1st, over the past week, the death toll in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand has exceeded 1,000, with damage escalating rapidly. This situation arose following the formation of three storms simultaneously over the Bay of Bengal, the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea late last month, leading to record rainfall.
In Sri Lanka, Cyclone ‘Ditwa’ has resulted in at least 355 deaths and 366 missing persons, marking the worst natural disaster in 20 years. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the nation, stating, “We are facing the largest and most difficult natural disaster in our history,” and pledged to “build a better country than before.” This disaster is recorded as the greatest loss of life since the 2004 tsunami, which claimed about 31,000 lives. Having declared a state of emergency the previous day, the Sri Lankan government, with international assistance, plans to engage in reconstruction efforts.
In Indonesia, Cyclones ‘Koto’ and ‘Senyar’ originating simultaneously from the Strait of Malacca have triggered floods and landslides, killing at least 502 and leaving 508 missing. In the severely affected Sumatra Island, roads and railways have been cut off, communications paralyzed, and 300,000 people displaced.
Thailand, experiencing its worst flooding in a decade, reports 170 deaths across eight provinces. Particularly in the southern region of Hat Yai, a record 335 mm of rain fell in a single day—the highest in 300 years. Although water levels are receding, recovery work is expected to take time.
As Southeast Asia continues to face recurrent floods and landslides due to frequent heavy rains, weather experts attribute the increased frequency of typhoons and tropical storms to climate change. Indonesia’s Meteorological Agency noted that the proximity of the Strait of Malacca to the equator reduces the Coriolis effect, making typhoons rare; however, their occurrence has increased over the past five years due to rising sea surface temperatures driven by climate change.