The death toll from days of relentless flooding across Southeast Asia climbed sharply on Friday, with at least 250people confirmed dead in Indonesia and hospitals in southern Thailand reporting that their morgues have reached full capacity.
Torrential rains sweeping through Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand have submerged cities, trapped thousands in their homes and unleashed deadly landslides.
Emergency crews are struggling to reach communities cut off by debris-blocked roads, downed power lines and disrupted communications.
On Sumatra island, flooding and landslides have killed at least 90 people, with many still missing.
North Sumatra police spokesman Ferry Walintukan said rescuers were prioritizing “evacuation and providing assistance,” although access to several areas remained blocked according to news agencies.
In Medan, floodwaters reached hip level, with residents urging passing motorists to drive slowly to avoid waves pushing into their homes. Several waded through the streets in rain ponchos and helmets.
In West Sumatra, 53-year-old Misniati described a harrowing escape as she fought strong currents returning from morning prayers.
“The water was already at my waist,” she said. By the time she reached her home, the water had risen to her chest. “We didn’t sleep at all last night; we just monitored the water.”
Southern Thailand has emerged as one of the hardest-hit regions, with residents in Hat Yai forced to cling to rooftops as rescue boats navigated the rising waters.
At least 55 people have died in Songkhla province, where the main hospital morgue announced it could no longer take in bodies, relying instead on refrigerated trucks for storage.
The Thai government later suspended Hat Yai’s district chief over alleged failures in handling the crisis.
Malaysia Also Hit
In Malaysia, flooding left parts of Perlis state underwater, killing at least two people as the same weather system—downgraded from a tropical storm to a depression—moved across the region on Friday.
Meteorologists say this year’s monsoon has been exacerbated by a recent tropical storm and amplified by climate-driven shifts that are increasing the intensity of rainfall and storm systems across Southeast Asia.
