Floods and landslides in four Asian countries leave 1,160 dead

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News Desk:

The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides caused by a cyclone in four Asian countries has surpassed 1,160. Sri Lanka and Indonesia have been the hardest hit, with military personnel deployed in both countries for rescue operations and relief distribution.

The report came via AFP on Monday (1 December) night, citing the countries’ emergency services.

Heavy and prolonged rainfall last week caused widespread damage across the island nation of Sri Lanka, much of Sumatra in Indonesia, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia. The World Health Organization (WHO) is dispatching rapid response teams and emergency supplies to the affected regions. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attributed the disaster to climate change.

In Sumatra, Indonesia, at least 593 people have died and around 470 remain missing due to floods and landslides. President Prabowo Subianto has visited the affected areas, and the government is prioritizing rapid delivery of relief aid. This is considered Indonesia’s most severe natural disaster since the 2018 tsunami.

In Sri Lanka, the cyclone “Dutvah” has caused at least 390 deaths, with 352 people still missing. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the situation as “the toughest natural disaster in the country’s history,” declared a state of emergency, and appealed for international assistance.

Elsewhere, southern Thailand has reported at least 176 deaths, and northern Malaysia has seen two fatalities. Continuous rainfall left many residents stranded on rooftops and isolated several villages. Efforts to manage the situation and rehabilitate affected communities are now underway.