Torrential rains last week caused severe flooding across Sri Lanka, Indonesia's Sumatra island, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia, submerging many residential areas.

In Indonesia, floods and landslides have tragically killed at least 593 people, with nearly 470 individuals still missing. President Prabowo Subianto visited North Sumatra today, expressing hope that "the worst is over." He affirmed that the government's immediate priority is to provide essential aid, particularly to isolated regions. This disaster marks the highest casualty count from a natural catastrophe in Indonesia since the 2018 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which claimed over 2,000 lives in Sulawesi.

In Sri Lanka, the government has appealed for international aid and deployed military helicopters to reach those trapped by floods and landslides caused by a recent storm. Officials reported at least 355 deaths and 366 people missing due to widespread flooding. Flood levels in the capital, Colombo, peaked last night, with the sudden surge of water surprising some residents.

"Every year we experience small floods, but this time it's different. The issue is not just the amount of water, but also the speed at which it arrived," said Dinusha Sanjaya, 37, a delivery driver. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described this flood as the "biggest and most challenging natural disaster in history."

Residents wade through floodwaters in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand, on 26/11. Photo: AFP

In Thailand, officials today announced that heavy rains and floods have killed at least 176 people in the southern part of the country. This incident is one of Thailand's deadliest floods in a decade. Meanwhile, Malaysia, where heavy rains also inundated many areas in Perlis state, recorded two fatalities.

The region is currently experiencing its rainy season, but climate change is intensifying storms. The incessant rains forced many residents to climb onto rooftops, awaiting rescue by boats and helicopters.

By Ngoc Anh (According to AFP)