The death toll from floods in several Southeast Asian countries has risen to more than 300 this Friday, as authorities in the region work to rescue trapped citizens, restore power and communications and coordinate recovery efforts as the waters begin to recede, according to Reuters.
Large areas of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have been hit for a week by torrential rains fueled by cyclones, with a rare tropical storm forming in the Strait of Malacca. In Indonesia, authorities say 174 people have died, while in Thailand the death toll totals 145. In addition, at least 56 people have died due to a cyclone in Sri Lanka, an island nation in South Asia, according to authorities.
On the island of Sumatra, the most affected area in Indonesia, rescue teams were still searching this Friday for 79 missing people. “We are running out of supplies and food,” warned Muhammad Rais, a 40-year-old resident who was forced to move to the second floor of his home on Thursday to escape the rapidly rising water level.
Communications remain cut in some parts of the island, and authorities are working to restore electricity and clear roads blocked by landslide debris, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency.
In Thailand, more than 3.5 million affected
In Thailand, at least 145 people have died due to the floods that have affected several provinces in the south of the country for several days, especially the province of Songkhla, according to the latest balance provided this Friday by the Thai Government, reports EFE. 110 people have died in Songkhla alone. Authorities say that more than 3.5 million people have been affected.
In the southern city of Hat Yai, the hardest-hit area in Thailand, the rain has finally stopped, but residents are still ankle-deep in water and many remain without power as they assess the damage their properties have suffered over the past week. While one lamented having “lost everything,” other residents confessed that they have avoided the worst, but complain about the consequences.
In Hat Yai you can see cars piled up after being swept away by the current, people waiting for help on the roofs or walking in water up to their necks, debris and a blanket of mud on the streets. The authorities warn that the number of victims could increase as more areas of the city are inspected.
“It affects us in everything, in every way,” said Somporn Petchtae, 52 years old. “My house didn’t flood, but I was stuck like I was on an island because I couldn’t go anywhere.”
In Malaysia, 30,000 evacuees in shelters
In neighboring Malaysia, where two people have been confirmed dead, Tropical Storm Senyar made landfall around midnight and has since weakened. Weather authorities are still bracing for heavy rain and winds, and have warned that rough seas could pose risks to small boats. A total of 30,000 evacuees remain in the shelters this Friday, down from more than 34,000 the day before.
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that it had already evacuated 1,459 Malaysian citizens trapped in more than 25 hotels affected by floods in neighboring Thailand, and added that it was working to rescue the 300 who still remain in flooded areas.
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