Deadly storms ravage Asia, killing over 900 with hundreds missing

A series of powerful storms and relentless monsoon rains have devastated large parts of Asia. killing more than 900 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for as rescue workers struggle to reach remote and inundated communities. 

The extreme weather, triggered in part by a rare tropical storm that formed in the Malacca Strait, unleashed severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, with heavy rains now moving toward India’s southern coastline.
Authorities confirmed at least 435 deaths in Indonesia, 334 in Sri Lanka, 162 in Thailand, and two in Malaysia, with the toll expected to rise as search operations continue. Millions have been displaced, entire towns submerged, and infrastructure crippled across vast regions.
In Indonesia, emergency teams are battling difficult terrain on Sumatra, where Cyclone Senyar triggered deadly landslides and washed away entire villages. The national disaster agency reported 435 deaths, a sharp increase from the previous day, and over 400 people still missing. Helicopters have been airlifting supplies to isolated communities surrounded by overflowing rivers and collapsed roads. Footage from North Sumatra shows families evacuating in rubber boats as rescuers wade through chest-deep water.
Thailand’s southern provinces were also pounded by extreme rainfall, affecting 3.5 million people. Hat Yai city suffered what officials described as a once-in-three-centuries downpour, submerging neighbourhoods under more than eight feet of water. Emergency crews airlifted oxygen tanks and evacuated hospital patients after floods cut access to a maternity ward holding 30 newborn babies. A state of emergency was declared in Songkhla region as authorities worked to restore power and deliver essential supplies.
Sri Lanka continues to reel from Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered devastating mudslides and widespread flooding. Officials say 334 people have been killed, 191 remain missing, and more than 1.1 million residents have been affected by the strongest storm to hit the island in years. With more than 25,000 homes destroyed, thousands are now sheltering in government-run evacuation centers. Large areas around Colombo remain underwater, with many residents trapped on the upper floors of their homes.
Malaysia, struck shortly after by the same storm system, reported two deaths as emergency evacuations moved 34,000 people to safer ground. Survivors described harrowing escapes as rising floods trapped families in northern Perlis state before they were rescued and relocated to temporary shelters.
Regional governments have appealed for international assistance as Asia faces one of its most destructive weather disasters in recent decades, with forecast models warning that more heavy rainfall could worsen conditions in the coming days.