What's happened
Flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have killed more than 1,160 people, displaced hundreds of thousands, and caused widespread infrastructure damage. Heavy monsoon rains, intensified by rare tropical cyclones, are linked to climate change. Aid efforts are ongoing amid inaccessible areas and rising food prices. Today's date: Fri, 05 Dec 2025.
What's behind the headline?
The recent floods highlight the escalating impact of climate change on regional weather patterns. The formation of rare tropical cyclones near the equator, such as Senyar, underscores how warming oceans are fueling more intense storms. Indonesia's response emphasizes the need for local climate resilience, yet the widespread damage and inaccessible zones reveal systemic vulnerabilities. Sri Lanka's declaration of a state of emergency and Thailand's relief efforts demonstrate the scale of the crisis. This pattern of extreme weather will likely intensify, requiring sustained international cooperation and adaptation strategies. The disaster also exposes the importance of early warning systems and infrastructure resilience to mitigate future impacts.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that over 1,160 people have died across the region, with Indonesia suffering 502 fatalities and 508 missing, while Sri Lanka has 410 deaths and 336 missing. Aid efforts are hampered by damaged roads and broken communication lines, especially in Sumatra and Aceh. Al Jazeera adds that hundreds remain missing, with nearly 148,000 displaced in Sri Lanka and over 290,700 in Indonesia. The Guardian highlights social unrest, with looting reported in Sumatra as residents scramble for supplies before aid arrives. The Independent notes the role of climate change in intensifying these storms, with Indonesia's President Prabowo pledging infrastructure rebuilding and emphasizing the need for climate action. Both sources agree on the scale of the disaster but differ in focus: The Guardian emphasizes social chaos, while Al Jazeera and The Independent focus on climate links and government responses.
How we got here
Recent severe weather in Southeast Asia has been driven by a combination of heavy monsoon rains and rare tropical cyclones, notably Cyclone Ditwah and Senyar. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of such events, leading to devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These regions are experiencing their worst natural disasters in decades, with infrastructure damage and mass displacement. Governments and aid agencies are responding with emergency supplies and rescue operations, but access remains difficult in many affected areas.
Go deeper
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What Caused the Recent Deadly Floods in Southeast Asia?
Recent devastating floods in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have caused widespread destruction and loss of life. These extreme weather events are linked to a combination of heavy monsoon rains and rare tropical cyclones, both of which are becoming more intense due to climate change. Understanding what triggered these floods and how climate change influences such disasters can help us better prepare and respond in the future. Below, we explore the causes, impacts, and ongoing efforts related to these catastrophic floods.
More on these topics
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Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than seventeen thousand islands, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Indonesia i
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Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia. Located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, it is composed of 76 provinces, and covers an area of 513,120 square kilometres, and a population
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Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.