Key Takeaways
- At least 460 killed across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia
- Indonesia reports 303 deaths with 279 people still missing
- Thailand experiences worst flooding in a decade with 162 fatalities
- Massive rescue operations ongoing across affected regions
Catastrophic flooding and landslides triggered by a tropical cyclone have claimed at least 460 lives across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia reporting the highest death toll at 303. Rescue operations continue across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia as thousands remain stranded by the devastating monsoon rains.
Indonesia’s Rising Death Toll
In Sumatra island alone, flooding and landslides have killed more than 300 people. National Disaster agency head Suharyanto confirmed 166 deaths in North Sumatra province, 90 in West Sumatra, and 47 in Aceh. At least 279 people remain missing despite tens of thousands being evacuated. Access to several severely affected provinces remains completely cut off.
Thailand’s Decade-Worst Flooding
Extreme weather has impacted over 3.8 million people in Thailand and damaged more than 1.4 million households. In Songkhla province, floodwaters reached three metres (nearly 10 feet) high. The death toll across eight provinces has reached 162, marking one of Thailand’s worst flooding disasters in ten years.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited evacuation shelters and apologized for the destruction. “I will use all my expertise and dedication to improve the situation,” he said, announcing a two-week cleanup timeframe for affected districts.
In severely hit Hat Yai, hospital workers moved bodies into refrigerated trucks after mortuaries exceeded capacity. The government has announced relief measures including compensation of up to two million baht ($62,000) for families who lost loved ones.
Malaysia Impact and Rescues
Two people were killed in Malaysia by flooding from heavy rains. The country’s foreign affairs ministry reported that more than 6,000 Malaysians stranded by severe flooding in Thailand’s Hat Yai have been rescued.
