The 2024–2025 floods in Southeast Asia and South Asia severely impacted multiple Southeast Asian and South Asian nations, resulting in numerous fatalities and widespread displacement across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka beginning in late-November 2024 at the onset of the 2024–25 monsoon season. The disasters primarily manifested as flash floods and landslides, triggered by intense monsoon rainfall.
| Date | November 2024 – ongoing |
|---|---|
| Location |  Indonesia  Malaysia  Sri Lanka  Thailand |
| Cause | Flash flooding, landslides |
| Deaths | 43 killed |
Meteorology
editSoutheast Asia's traditional wet season, which typically spans October through March, is driven by the Australian-Indonesian monsoon (AIM) system. This meteorological phenomenon generates air currents flowing from Asia toward Australia, transporting significant moisture that results in substantial precipitation across the region. The situation was further influenced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation patterns, with an anticipated La Niña phase predicted to exacerbate extreme weather conditions through increased rainfall as Pacific Ocean temperatures decrease and easterly trade winds intensify.[1]
The Malaysian Meteorological Department projected between five and seven major rainfall events during the 2024 annual monsoon season in Malaysia, which typically spans from November through March. Government officials anticipated that the 2024 floods could surpass the severity of the 2014-15 monsoon season, which resulted in twenty-one fatalities and displaced more than 250,000 people in Malaysia. Weather forecasts suggested that intense precipitation expected in subsequent months could affect additional regions of the country.[2]
Course of events
editIndonesia
editThe Indonesian island of Sumatra experienced flash floods and landslides that claimed twenty-seven lives. The initial disasters occurred across four regions of North Sumatra province, resulting in twenty fatalities. A subsequent landslide on the primary transportation route connecting Medan to adjacent areas resulted in seven additional deaths. The incident trapped numerous motor vehicles and a tourist bus beneath an accumulation of mud, vegetation, and stone debris. The disaster necessitated the hospitalization of more than ten individuals in Medan, with rescue operations continuing for several days as authorities worked to reach vehicles trapped in the debris.[1]
Malaysia
editOn 29 November 2024, the Malaysian National Disaster Command Center reported that flooding had claimed three lives and necessitated the evacuation of approximately 95,000 individuals from their residences. The northeastern regions bore the brunt of the disaster, with Kelantan State, situated along the Thai border, recording the highest number of evacuees at nearly 64,000 people. The neighboring state of Terengganu experienced the second-highest displacement, with over 22,500 residents forced to abandon their homes. On 1 December 2024, 148,024 people sought refuge in emergency shelters established throughout 10 affected states: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, and Perlis.[3] Seri Mentaloon, Menteri Besar of Kedah, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's official residence, was also flooded, forcing Sanusi and family to relocate.[4]
Thailand
editIn Thailand, late November flooding disaster impacted over 135,000 households, prompting extensive emergency response efforts in both nations. Thailand's southern regions recorded rainfall exceeding 90 millimeters within a 24-hour period.[1] The extensive flooding resulted in one fatality and the displacement of over 2,700 people.[5]
Sri Lanka
editIn late November, Sri Lanka faced a separate weather emergency caused by a tropical depression in the southwestern Bay of Bengal. The system produced intense rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters within 24 hours, resulting in twelve fatalities and the disappearance of six children. The crisis forced more than 250,000 residents to evacuate. The India Meteorological Department issued warnings about the depression's potential intensification into a tropical storm, with projected movement toward the Indian mainland.[1]
Response
editMalaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instituted a mandatory directive preventing cabinet ministers from taking leave, requiring their direct involvement in flood-affected regions. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who coordinated the disaster response efforts, mobilized substantial resources to manage flooding emergencies. The response infrastructure included approximately 83,000 personnel, multiple rescue vessels, off-road vehicles, and thirty-one helicopters. Additionally, authorities identified more than 8,400 temporary evacuation facilities capable of sheltering over two million people if necessary.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Weather tracker: Indonesia flash floods and landslides leave dozens dead". The Guardian. 2024-11-29. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ a b "3 dead and over 90,000 displaced as Malaysia prepares for its worst floods in a decade". AP News. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ Bernama (2024-12-01). "148,000 at relief centres as number of evacuees falls in 7 states". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Reporter, S. D. (2024-12-01). "Floods force Sanusi and family to relocate from official residence". Sinar Daily. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ "One dead, thousands displaced as floods hit southern Thailand". CNA. Retrieved 2024-11-29.