Asia floods, cyclones kill 1,000+; 800 still missing across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said flooding displaced about 290,700 people in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh provinces. At least 464 people are missing.

Sri Lanka said rescuers are still searching for 367 missing people. Around 218,000 people are staying in temporary shelters after heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides, mainly in the tea-growing central hills.

Thailand reported widespread damage in the south, where flooding affected 3.9 million people. The government said the first batch of compensation payments 239 million baht (£5.1 million) would go to about 26,000 people.

How authorities are responding

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh Monday. He promised to rebuild destroyed roads, homes and public facilities.

“We need to confront climate change effectively,” Prabowo told reporters, AP said. He added that local governments “must take a significant role in safeguarding the environment and preparing for the extreme weather conditions that will arise from future climate change.”

Prabowo told displaced families in West Sumatra that they would “not face the burden of this disaster alone,” according to AP.

In Thailand, government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said work was underway to clean streets and restore water and electricity.

What authorities expect next

Authorities in all three countries are expanding search efforts to find the missing. Indonesia continues to reach remote areas by air, while Sri Lankan teams are focused on landslide-hit central regions.

Thailand’s Interior Ministry will set up public kitchens to provide cooked food for residents, AP reported. Governments say restoring infrastructure and supporting displaced people will remain priorities in the coming days.