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The number of fatalities from extensive floods and landslides across Southeast Asia has exceeded 350, with clean-up and search operations underway in Indonesia and Thailand.

Intense seasonal downpours have inundated vast regions in these countries, causing hundreds of deaths and stranding thousands, many awaiting rescue on building tops.

Obstacles to Relief in Sumatra

Rescue teams in Indonesia are facing difficulties accessing the most severely affected parts of Sumatra island, where over a hundred people remain missing.

As per official reports, flooding and landslides in Indonesia have claimed more than 200 lives.

“By this evening, 61 deaths are confirmed, and 90 are still being searched for,” stated a spokesperson for the West Sumatran disaster mitigation body.

Across North Sumatra, an additional 116 individuals lost their lives, while in the province of Aceh, the death toll stood at a minimum of 35.

The head of the national disaster agency revealed that a cloud seeding operation would begin in the region to minimize precipitation, the majority of which had already subsided by Saturday.

Critical Flood Situation in Thailand

Across Thailand’s south, floodwaters rose to three metres in Songkhla, killing at least 145 people in among the most severe flooding incidents in ten years.

National fatalities was reported as 162, according to the government.

Hospital staff in the severely affected Hat Yai area moved bodies into refrigerated trucks after the facility reached its limit.

Thailand’s leader visited a shelter for evacuees on the weekend, expressing regret for the situation.

“I must sincerely apologize to them for letting this happen during my administration,” he stated to the media.

He added, “Our priority is to prevent the situation from deteriorating,” setting a two-week deadline for the district’s clean-up.

Government Relief Measures

Authorities rolled out relief measures for those affected by the disaster, including compensation of up to 2m baht (around $62,000) for households that lost family members.

With waters subsiding, local business owners like one general store owner assessed the damage, expressing sorrow over heavy monetary damage.

His store was broken into and damaged in the wake of the disaster.

Public Criticism and Government Reaction

Public discontent has risen regarding Thailand’s flood response, with several authorities suspended over alleged failures.

An opposition MP condemned the government, stating that it “wrongly estimated the situation” and made “errors in handling the flood crisis.”

Malaysia Impact

In Malaysia, two people were killed due to flooding caused by heavy rain that left northern Perlis state submerged.

Seasonal Rains and Environmental Influences

Yearly monsoon periods, typically between June and September, often result in intense rainfall, triggering landslides and flash floods.

A tropical storm has exacerbated the situation, and the death tolls in Indonesia and Thailand are some of the most severe from floods in recent years.

Climate change has influenced storm patterns, changing the length and strength of the season, resulting in more intense rains, rapid floods, and stronger wind gusts.