Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Thailand and Indonesia are struggling with severe flooding this week, as rescue teams rushed to save people trapped in their homes and on rooftops. Heavy rain, a tropical cyclone, and strong winds have caused some of the worst floods seen in years in both countries.
Thailand reported that 55 people have died from massive floods caused by almost a week of nonstop rainfall. Nine southern provinces have been badly damaged, and nearly 3 million people have been affected. Many families are staying in evacuation centres because their homes are underwater.
In Indonesia, the situation is also very serious. A tropical cyclone hit the island of Sumatra, creating deadly floods and landslides. At least 61 people have died, and more than 100 people are still missing. Many villages are cut off because of destroyed roads, fallen trees and broken power lines.
Thailand has launched large rescue operations with the help of the military. An aircraft carrier, around 20 helicopters and many trucks carrying food, medicines and rubber boats have been sent to flooded areas. The government also asked the public to help by providing boats and jet skis to reach people who have been cut off by water up to two metres high.
In the city of Hat Yai, the worst-hit area, water levels began to slowly fall on Thursday. Officials hope this will allow emergency teams to reach more communities and start restoring basic services like electricity and clean water. The government spokesperson said that the situation will take time to fully recover, and rescue activities must continue without a break.
Thousands of people in Hat Yai have been stuck in their homes for days. The city recorded its heaviest rain in 15 years, with more than 335 mm falling in just one day. Aerial footage showed long roads filled with brown water, cars abandoned, and people wading through knee-deep floods.
Some residents shared painful stories. One young man, Natawat, said he was swimming across a flooded road to reach his grandmother, who had not eaten for days. Others waited on rooftops for helicopters to deliver food.
On Sumatra in Indonesia, a powerful cyclone caused sudden floods and deadly landslides. Videos and verified images showed houses buried in mud, cars piled on top of each other, and fast-running water sweeping away belongings. Rescue workers carried bodies through deep mud while searching for survivors.
Local meteorologists explained that the extreme weather may be caused by two active systems — Typhoon Koto near the Philippines and Cyclone Senyar in the Malacca Strait. Rising global temperatures, they said, make storms stronger and more frequent. This disaster comes after several typhoons recently affected the Philippines, Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia.
In neighbouring Malaysia, similar flooding in seven states killed two people and forced more than 34,000 residents to move to shelters. A new tropical storm warning was issued for the coming weekend, with forecasts of strong winds and heavy rain. Some Malaysians stranded in Thailand were brought back using large container trucks because smaller vehicles could not move through deep water.
At evacuation centres, people shared stories of fear and loss. A 73-year-old woman from Malaysia said rising water around her home looked “like the ocean.” In Thailand, police reported helping more than 1,000 stranded foreigners and moving them to safe shelters.
One elderly man in Hat Yai described how water quickly filled his home, forcing him and his dog to escape onto a boat. He said they had to leave everything behind because the entire house was submerged.
Despite these heartbreaking stories, rescue teams across Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia continue to work day and night, using helicopters, drones and boats to save lives and deliver emergency supplies. Authorities warn that recovery will take time, especially with weather systems still active in the region.
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