TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deadly floods have killed nearly 1,000 people across several countries in Asia.
Indonesia and Sri Lanka are facing the worst disaster in recent years, with the military being deployed while access to cities is cut off by the floods. Aid is also struggling to meet the existing needs.
CNA reported that separate weather systems brought heavy and prolonged rains to the entire island of Sri Lanka and most of the northern part of Sumatra in Indonesia, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia last week.
In Indonesia, floods and landslides mark the deadliest disaster in the country since the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka declared a national emergency as floods hit the capital city of Colombo, making it the worst disaster since 2017, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Indonesia: Isolated Areas and Slow Delivery of Aid
The Indonesian government recorded at least 442 deaths, with 402 people still missing in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. Access to entire communities is cut off due to damaged roads, landslides, and disrupted communication lines, resulting in cities like Sibolga and Central Tapanuli becoming inaccessible.
Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto stated that thousands of people are stranded without food, water, or medication. Videos footage on social media showed residents struggling through debris and floods to reach damaged supermarkets.
President Prabowo Subianto, who is under pressure to declare a national disaster emergency status, visited North Sumatra and announced the deployment of helicopters, planes, three warships, and two hospital ships to reach remote villages.
“There are several isolated villages that, God willing, we can reach,” he said. As of the time of writing, Prabowo has not declared a national emergency for the disaster in Sumatra.
Sri Lanka: State of Emergency
Sri Lanka reported 344 deaths, 228 missing persons, and 147,000 displaced individuals, with 25,000 homes destroyed after Cyclone Ditwah caused severe landslides and floods, especially along the Kelani River near Colombo.
In Nyalo River, the floods have receded, but thick mud buried homes and farmland. “Most villagers chose to stay; they didn’t want to leave their houses behind," said Idris, 55.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a national state of emergency and requested international assistance. India responded first with helicopters and aid supplies, followed by aid commitments from Pakistan and Japan.
The capital city is struggling as heavy rains recently fell in the upstream area, inundating low-lying settlements. A resident of Wennawatte, Selvi, fled with only four bags: "My house is completely flooded. I do not know where to go."
Medical services collapsed, with blood banks reporting critical blood shortages. Around 236 units of blood were collected in a day compared to the requirement of 1,500.
Officials warned that the risk of landslides remains high as saturated slopes threaten further collapses.
The losses and damages in Sri Lanka are the worst since the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed about 31,000 people and caused over a million people to lose their homes.
Thailand and Malaysia: Rising Death Toll
Southern Thailand reported at least 176 deaths, one of the worst flood incidents in the country in a decade, sparking public criticism and the suspension of two local officials.
In Perlis state, Malaysia, heavy rains claimed the lives of two people and inundated a large portion of the region.
Most parts of Asia are entering the annual rainy season. However, the scale of the damage this year has been exacerbated by rare tropical storms affecting the region.
Climate change has altered storm patterns, increasing the volume and duration of rainfall.
Officials across the region have noted that the storm behavior, lasting longer and releasing more water, is consistent with climate-related disruptions.
Throughout Southeast Asia, at least 600 people have died due to flood-related incidents during this season alone.
Editor’s Choice: Southeast Asia Floods: More Than 250 Deaths Reported
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