Southeast Asia underwater: dozens of victims, colossal damage

Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia have found themselves in a zone of extremely intense rainfall, surpassing the maxima recorded in the past few decades. The flash floods are accompanied by dangerous landslides, and inundated infrastructure is hindering assistance to those affected. Southeast Asia is once again painfully experiencing the effects of climate change.

Over 90 flood victims in Vietnam

The Vietnamese Meteorological and Hydrological Administration published data on Monday regarding the torrential rains that hit the south-central part of the country in the second half of November. In most areas of Dak Lak Province, total rainfall ranged from 500 to 1200 mm, and in Song Hinh measuring instruments recorded as much as 1861 mm.

Rain-induced floods in five catchments are considered the most severe in 50 years. On the Ba River, the historic maximum from 1993 was exceeded by as much as 109 cm. The flood wave, combined with landslides observed in several provinces across more than 800 km, caused the deaths of at least 91 people. Another 11 remain missing.

Despite the end of rainfall, the situation in central Vietnam remains catastrophic. Flooded roads are preventing transport and hindering evacuations, and food and medicine are being delivered to those affected by helicopter. The government reports over 186,000 destroyed residential buildings and more than 1 million facilities without power. Coffee plantations in Dak Lak Province have been damaged, and preliminary estimates suggest economic losses of up to 500 million dollars.

Southeast Asia in a state of natural disaster

Last weekend, intense rainfall was also recorded in Thailand. According to AP News, flash floods have affected more than 2 million citizens. So far, 19 people have died from drowning and electrocution, and water levels continue to rise.

In the city of Hat Yai, Friday alone brought 335 mm of rain, and 630 mm fell over three days – a disaster with a probability of 1 in 300 years, according to meteorologists. Local authorities are making efforts to evacuate hundreds of residents and tourists trapped in hotels. Water on the streets has reached 2.5 m, cutting off the local hospital with 500 patients, including 30 newborns.

On Tuesday, the Thai government declared Songkhla Province a disaster zone and released special funds to help those affected. Estimates indicate 127,000 flooded homes across the country.

The highest state of flood alert is also in effect in Malaysia. The local Department of Social Welfare reported on Monday that 19,000 citizens in 9 states have been evacuated. In some towns in the states of Kelantan and Perlis, water on the streets is already knee-deep. Unfortunately, the rain is not letting up, and meteorologists warn of further rises in river levels.

What is causing these weather anomalies?

Southeast Asia is once again experiencing the effects of climate change this year. In Vietnam, two typhoons struck in September, one week apart, leaving dozens of fatalities and colossal destruction in their wake. Both storms also hit the Philippines, where losses were even greater – more than 200 people died.

While Malaysia’s monsoon season lasts from November to March, Thailand’s rainy season usually ends in October. Unfortunately, rising temperatures are increasing the intensity of weather events, and Southeast Asia is particularly affected by the warming of the western North Pacific and the South China Sea, explains Ben Clarke from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment in London.

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