Cyclone Ditwah brought heavy rainfall to South and Southeast Asia [2,4]. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand were particularly affected, with the death toll now exceeding 900 [4]. On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, days of exceptionally heavy rainfall have also led to devastating floods and landslides [1]. Authorities are now reporting more than 440 deaths. Over 400 people are still missing. The persistent rainfall has flooded and caused enormous destruction across entire regions in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Around 290,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and are currently homeless [1]. Due to days of heavy monsoon rains, many remote areas were difficult or impossible for rescue teams to reach [3]. Neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia have also been affected by the extreme weather conditions. These events once again highlight the impact of intense heavy rainfall in Southeast Asia and the challenges of providing rapid assistance to the affected population [1]. Meteorological services have made it clear that exceptionally heavy monsoon rains combined with a tropical storm have exacerbated the situation. These events once again illustrate how extreme precipitation and weather conditions are increasing in the wake of the climate crisis [4].
[1] Weitere Tote nach Sturm auf Sumatra Tagesschau 2025
[2] Zyklon in Südostasien Tagesschau 2025
[3] Viele Hundert Tote nach schweren Überschwemmungen Süddeutsche Zeitung 2025
[4] Death toll passes 900 in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka floods The Guardian 2025
(image source: AI-genereated)