Heavy rains and severe flooding have killed at least 33 people in southern Thailand and two in neighboring Malaysia, with tens of thousands displaced. In Thailand, receding floodwaters are allowing rescue teams to step up evacuations, with authorities now turning to drones to airdrop food parcels where roads and telecoms remain cut off. The southern city of Hat Yai saw record rainfall of 335 mm (13 inches) in a single day the highest in 300 years leaving thousands stranded on rooftops and prompting the military to deploy helicopters, planes, and even the country’s only aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, to deliver aid.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, Indonesia, a tropical cyclone caused floods and landslides that killed at least 28 people and left 10 missing. Power outages, damaged bridges, and washed-out homes are hampering rescue operations. Meteorologists point to the interaction of Typhoon Koto and Cyclone Senyar, amplified by warming seas, as the cause of these extreme weather events in Southeast Asia.
Why It Matters
The disasters underscore the growing vulnerability of Southeast Asia to extreme weather events intensified by climate change. Millions are affected across multiple countries, highlighting the challenges in disaster response, infrastructure resilience, and cross-border coordination. The use of drones in Thailand represents an innovative approach to aid delivery in areas cut off by floodwaters.
Thai and Malaysian authorities are coordinating large-scale rescues, with the military and disaster teams playing central roles. Stranded residents and evacuees are directly impacted, while humanitarian groups may be called in for support. Indonesian disaster agencies are struggling with the scale of cyclone damage, and meteorological agencies are monitoring regional storm activity that threatens more flooding.
What’s Next
Rescue and aid operations will continue in Thailand and Malaysia as waters recede further, while drones and military assets are likely to play a key role in reaching stranded communities. In Indonesia, search and recovery operations are ongoing. Authorities in all affected countries are also likely to issue warnings and prepare for additional flooding as seasonal storms and climate-driven extremes persist.
With information from Reuters.
