Staff Reporter

Catastrophic floods and landslides across South-East Asia have claimed more than 1,300 lives and displaced over a million people.

Emergency crews are also struggling to reach survivors amidst destruction in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The death toll has climbed following a series of rare cyclones and storm systems that lashed the region last week, with hundreds of people still missing thousands feared dead.

Indonesia, particularly the island of Sumatra, has been hit hardest after an incredibly rare equatorial cyclone, identified as Tropical Cyclone Senyar made landfall.

The confirmed death toll in Indonesia has risen to 712, with 500 people still missing and approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces.

Survivors are facing unbearable conditions in makeshift shelters.

In Langkat, many are reporting a severe lack of resources, leading to desperate measures. “We have to fight with each other to get instant noodles and eggs every day.

“We don’t have food, we don’t have medical supplies and the children are sick,” said Rosmita, an affected woman in the area.

Elsewhere in the region, two other nations are reeling from the storm systems as Sri Lanka death toll stands at 465, with an estimated 218,000 people now living in temporary shelters.

176 fatalities have also been recorded in Thailand.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during a tour of the flood-affected areas, pledged to rebuild damaged infrastructure and stressed the urgent need to confront climate change effectively.