WMO Warns of Deadly Floods Across Asia as Extreme Rains Batter Region

Geneva: Catastrophic flooding triggered by intense monsoon rains and tropical cyclones has devastated several South and Southeast Asian countries, killing hundreds, displacing large populations, and causing severe economic damage, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Tuesday.

Clare Nullis, a WMO spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Sri Lanka are among the hardest-hit nations, where monsoon downpours have combined with powerful typhoons to unleash widespread destruction. She cautioned that rising global temperatures are making extreme rainfall events more likely, reinforcing floods as one of the region’s biggest natural hazards.

In Sumatra, Indonesia, authorities have reported over 600 deaths, more than 460 people missing, and 1.5 million affected by the floods.

Viet Nam has endured relentless rainfall for weeks, with some regions receiving over 1,000 mm of rain. Hue City recorded a staggering 1,739.6 mm in 24 hours in late October — a new national record and possibly the second-highest 24-hour rainfall ever measured in Asia and the Northern Hemisphere. The country has reported 98 deaths and 10 missing, according to Xinhua.

The Philippines, still grappling with the aftermath of earlier typhoons, is bracing for another incoming storm.

In Sri Lanka, Cyclonic Storm Ditwah has caused devastating floods and landslides, leaving over 400 people dead or missing and affecting nearly one million residents. The government has declared a national disaster, describing the situation as the worst in years.

According to UNICEF’s Ricardo Pires, more than 275,000 children have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah, though the actual number may be higher as many areas remain inaccessible.

The crisis, Nullis said, underscores the urgent need to strengthen regional forecasting capabilities, improve data-sharing systems, and expand disaster-preparedness measures. She stressed that the Asia-Pacific region is experiencing record-breaking typhoon activity and warned that no single country can tackle the challenges of tropical cyclones or climate change alone.

With inputs from IANS