December 1, 2025
Web desk
A deadly combination of powerful tropical cyclones and intense monsoon rains has caused massive destruction across South and Southeast Asia, killing more than 1,100 people and displacing hundreds of thousands.
Three major weather systems including a rare cyclone that formed in the Strait of Malacca triggered widespread flooding and landslides in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Indonesia has been hit the hardest, with at least 604 deaths, hundreds missing, and nearly 300,000 people displaced. Entire villages in Sumatra were submerged, and emergency workers are struggling to reach affected areas.
Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after 366 deaths and record-breaking rainfall that affected more than 1.3 million people. Flooded roads, landslides, and damaged infrastructure have slowed relief efforts, as thousands of families remain in temporary shelters.
Thailand has reported 170 fatalities, facing some of the worst flooding in a decade, while Vietnam and Malaysia are battling severe flash floods, sunken boats, and widespread displacement.
Experts link the increasing intensity of cyclones and extreme rainfall to human-caused climate change, which warms oceans and fuels stronger storms. Governments across the region are conducting large-scale rescue operations as the full extent of the damage continues to unfold.
