Islamabad(The COW News Digital)A powerful storm system unleashed a week of relentless rainfall, landslides, and flooding across Southeast Asia, leaving more than 600 people dead and over four million affected in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Rescue agencies warn that the numbers are likely to rise as search operations continue in remote and devastated regions.
In Indonesia’s western province of Sumatra, landslides and flooding struck three districts with exceptional force. Entire neighborhoods were washed away as rivers overflowed and unstable hillsides collapsed. Emergency teams are delivering aid via helicopters to areas cut off by damaged roads and blocked mountain passes.
According to international media reports, Indonesia has borne the heaviest losses with at least 442 confirmed deaths. Thailand has recorded 170 fatalities, while Malaysia has reported two deaths linked to the severe weather. The storm developed over the Strait of Malacca and brought intense winds and torrential rains for seven consecutive days, overwhelming infrastructure across the three countries.
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Survivors recount harrowing experiences as homes were swept away within minutes. Afri Anti, a 41-year-old resident of Padang, described fleeing in fear when water rushed unexpectedly into her house. “We ran for our lives. When we returned, the house was destroyed. Only one wall is left. We are living in a tent beside it. My shop is also gone—we have nothing left,” she said.
Authorities in Indonesia report that 289 people are still missing, while more than 213,000 have been displaced. Shelters, medical relief centers, and food distribution points are struggling to support the surging number of affected families.
Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla has suffered the country’s highest death toll, with 131 fatalities. In Hat Yai, one of the worst-hit cities, 335 millimeters of rain fell in a single day last Friday—the highest 24-hour rainfall recorded in 300 years. Officials warn that saturated land and ongoing rains could trigger further landslides.
Malaysia is also grappling with severe flooding, with more than 24,500 people still housed in emergency relief camps. Authorities continue to evacuate families from submerged areas, as meteorologists forecast additional rainfall in several districts.
The widespread destruction has prompted urgent calls from humanitarian groups for coordinated regional relief efforts, improved disaster preparedness, and stronger climate resilience strategies. Governments across Southeast Asia are assessing the extensive economic loss and environmental damage caused by one of the region’s deadliest weather events in recent years.
