Severe monsoon rains, intensified by multiple tropical cyclones, have unleashed catastrophic flooding across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam — killing more than 1,100 people and leaving tens of thousands stranded without food, water or electricity.
In Indonesia’s Aceh province, 63-year-old Aminah Ali survived by climbing onto her roof as three-metre-high waters swallowed her village. “My house is ruined… all my possessions are gone,” she said, describing homes swept away in minutes. Another resident, Busra Ishak, survived by clinging to a coconut tree for 12 hours but lost his sister in the deluge.
Southern Thailand’s Hat Yai city was among the worst hit, with at least 176 deaths. Residents recount a near-total collapse of communication, delayed evacuation orders, and days spent without drinking water. Natchanun Insuwano, stranded waist-deep in floodwater with his unconscious mother, said he shouted desperately for rescue until a volunteer boat arrived. “It rained all night. We were so cold,” he said.
Another resident, 32-year-old Chutikan Panpit, was bitten by a Malayan pit viper while checking water levels and endured 32 hours without medical access. “I just thought of my son’s face,” she said as rescuers battled powerful currents to rush her to help.
Across Sumatra, highways and at least 11 bridges have collapsed, cutting off entire districts. Many communities remain reachable only by air or boat. Relief shelters continue to struggle with shortages of clean water, food and medicines. Survivors say this year’s flooding is “the worst tragedy in history.”
As waters slowly recede, the region faces an enormous recovery effort: tens of thousands of homes are destroyed, debris chokes city streets, and trauma lingers — with even the sound of rain now triggering fear among residents.