Post by : Meena Ariff

Catastrophic flooding and landslides in multiple regions of Asia have resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities as of Monday. In response, military forces in Sri Lanka and Indonesia are aiding devastated communities.

Recent weather patterns have led to extreme rainfall in Sri Lanka, parts of Sumatra, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia.

These persistent downpours have left many residents seeking shelter on rooftops, awaiting rescue via boat or helicopter, with entire villages isolated from assistance.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited North Sumatra on Monday, expressing hope that the most severe impact has subsided. He emphasized that the government is focused on delivering urgent help to remote regions.

Currently, Indonesia has reported about 502 fatalities, with over 500 individuals still unaccounted for. This catastrophe marks the deadliest event in Indonesia since the 2018 earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, which resulted in over 2,000 deaths.

In response, the government has mobilized three warships and two hospital vessels to reach those in hardest-hit areas where access is limited. Misbahul Munir, a 28-year-old evacuee in North Aceh, shared his harrowing experience: "I waded through neck-deep water to reach my parents. All that’s left of my belongings are the clothes I’m wearing," he lamented.

The Sri Lankan government is also seeking international help and deploying military helicopters to assist citizens trapped by the flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. Official estimates indicate at least 340 lives lost, with many still missing.

In Colombo, floodwaters are beginning to recede, and some businesses are reopening. Relief teams are actively clearing roads obstructed by fallen vegetation and mudslides in central areas, revealing the extensive damage.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who declared a state of emergency, remarked, "We are confronting the most significant and challenging natural disaster in our history. We are determined to rebuild a better nation."

Additionally, Thailand and Malaysia have not been spared, with southern Thailand reporting 176 fatalities and two casualties in Malaysia’s Perlis state. Governments are undertaking relief initiatives, although criticism persists over the delays in response.

Experts have pointed to climate change as a factor intensifying storms and increasing the frequency and severity of such disasters.

#World News #Floods