TLDW logo

More than 1,100 killed in floods across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka | BBC News

By BBC News

Summary

## Key takeaways - **Indonesia Flood Deaths Hit 600**: The number of people who've died in flooding and landslides in Indonesia has now risen to at least 600 with rescue workers struggling to reach some of the worst affected areas. [00:00], [00:21] - **Sri Lanka Toll at 390 Dead**: In Sri Lanka, 390 people have died. Officials there say much of the damage, especially in central areas, is only now becoming apparent as relief workers clear roads blocked by mudslides and fallen trees. [00:27], [00:50] - **Sumatra: Thousands Homeless**: The military is helping relief efforts on the island of Sumatra in the west where thousands have been left homeless. [00:13], [00:20] - **Roads Blocked, Supplies Scarce**: With so many roads blocked, so many bridges down, getting supplies in is difficult. People here are now in urgent need of pretty much everything. [01:56], [02:15] - **Victim Trapped 4 Days Under Debris**: Aronita Andestra is one of the hundreds who died in the flood. She was trapped under debris and flood water for 4 days, says her son Eric. [01:39], [01:58] - **Sri Lanka: One-Third Without Power**: The storms have now moved on to Sri Lanka, inundating much of that island. One third of the country is now without power. [02:09], [02:27]

Topics Covered

  • Floods Catch Millions Offguard
  • Debris Traps Victims for Days
  • Climate Drives Extreme Weather

Full Transcript

The number of people who've died in flooding and landslides in Indonesia has now risen to at least 600 with rescue workers struggling to reach some of the worst affected areas. Now, the military is helping relief efforts on the island

of Sumatra in the west where thousands have been left homeless. Indonesia,

however, isn't the only country in Southeast Asia that's been badly hit.

Thailand and the Philippines have also experienced heavy rain and storms recently. In South Asia, there's also been widespread devastation caused by a

recently. In South Asia, there's also been widespread devastation caused by a separate weather system. In Sri Lanka, 390 people have died. Officials there

say much of the damage, especially in central areas, is only now becoming apparent as relief workers clear roads blocked by mudslides and fallen trees.

Jonathan Head has more on the devastating weather ravaging large parts of Asia.

Exhausted after clinging for hours to a palm tree, this Indonesian man was lucky to be rescued. Shortly after that, the boat finds another man barely hanging on in the raging current. The past month has brought exceptionally heavy rainfall

to Southeast Asia, catching millions of people offguard. Huge mudslides have buried communities here on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. There was little warning. Those

who escaped have come back to find their villages barely recognizable, buildings crushed, >> roads swept away. Aronita Andestra is one of the hundreds who died in the flood, carried here by

her family for a simple burial in the forest. She was trapped under debris and flood water for 4 days, says her son Eric. We didn't have the strength to dig her out

with our hands. We had to wait for heavy machinery to pull her out. People here

are now in urgent need of pretty much everything. But with so many roads blocked, so many bridges down, getting supplies in is difficult. Cleaning up will be a mammoth task.

There is mud everywhere. The storms have now moved on to Sri Lanka, inundating much of that island.

Onethird of the country is now without power. Boats are the only way to get around.

>> With climate change, the weather keeps getting more extreme, more unpredictable.

Everyone here knows they may have to face this or worse again in the future.

Jonathan Head, BBC News.

Loading...

Loading video analysis...