Summary

  • At least 80 people have died and dozens more are still missing after devastating floods hit Indonesia this week

  • South East Asia is facing some of the worst floods the region has seen in years, with millions impacted across Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

  • But it's not just South East Asia that is struggling with extreme weather - in Sri Lanka, at least 56 people have died and 21 are still missing after heavy rains wreaked havoc on the island this week

  • Sri Lanka is bracing for more severe weather on Friday as Cyclone Ditwah moves along its eastern coast

Media caption,

Scores killed as floods sweep several Asian nations

  1. We're closing our coveragepublished at 09:13 GMT 28 November

    We're wrapping up this page soon. Before that, here's a recap of what we've been reporting in the last few hours as deadly floods and landslides hit parts of South East Asia and Sri Lanka.

    • In Indonesia, unusually heavy rains across several areas in the island of Sumatra have left at least 90 dead. Rescuers are racing to find dozens still missing
    • South East Asia as a whole is facing some of the worst floods the region has seen in years, which have affected millions across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia
    • Thailand, which is set to host next month's South East Asian Games, will move events for 11 sports to the capital Bangkok because of deadly floods in the south. The death toll there has risen to 145.
    • In Sri Lanka, record floods and landslides have killed 56 people. Cyclone Ditwah swept through the island nation on Friday bringing more rains.
    • Rescue operations are ongoing in many of these places, but power cuts, mudslides and road blockages have hampered some search efforts

    Thank you for staying with us. Read more of of coverage here.

  2. Thailand death toll jumps to 145published at 09:01 GMT 28 November

    Thailand has seen some of the worst flooding in South East Asia this week, with the number of deaths rising to 145 on Friday, according to a government spokesperson.

    Over 100 of the fatalities are from the southern province of Songkhla, where flood waters have submerged homes and hotels, the government says.

  3. Which areas in Indonesia are affected by Cyclone Senyar?published at 08:20 GMT 28 November

    The exceptionally rare cyclone has brought rains to Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

    Map of Indonesia showing the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra
  4. Basic necessities running out, says North Sumatra residentpublished at 08:02 GMT 28 November

    Oki Budhi
    BBC Indonesia

    A woman from the affected region in North Sumatra describes the shortages caused by the deadly weather at home.

    Basic goods and food supplies like cooking oil and vegetables are hard to find in markets, and prices of what is available have become extremely high, says Yopi Aghaji, a resident of the Sihitang District on the west of Indonesia.

    The price of a kilogram of chilli peppers, she says, has doubled from 100,000 rupiah (£4.53; $6).

    Petrol is also in low supply.

    "On Thursday night, many people queued until midnight [at gas stations] but many went home empty handed because the petrol had run out," she tells the BBC.

    Blackouts are still happening sporadically and schools have been closed until the end of the week, she adds.

  5. Cyclone Ditwah sweeps through Sri Lankapublished at 07:46 GMT 28 November

    Sri Lanka is grappling with one of its worst weather-related disasters in recent years.

    At least 56 people have been killed and many missing, after floods and landslides caused by heavy rain that hit the country this week.

    Cyclone Ditwah brought more rains on Friday as it swept through the island nation.

    Residents wade through a flooded street during heavy rainfall in Puttalam, Sri LankaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Students sitting for the Advanced Level Exams have have their exams postponed as a result of the deadly weather

    Men load rolls of cloth onto a truck parked along a flooded street after heavy rains in Malwana on the outskirts of ColomboImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Some schools, train services and government offices in Sri Lanka have shut

    Cars pictured driving along a highway towards the city, where Sri Lanka's iconic Lotus Tower is seen surrounded by storm clouds in the backgroundImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Sri Lanka is preparing itself for more bad weather on Friday as Cyclone Ditwah approaches

  6. Images show Indonesia reeling from floodspublished at 07:29 GMT 28 November

    Pictures coming from Indonesia show how its people are coping with some of the worst floods the region has seen in years.

    Thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes in areas hit by the flooding.

    The pictures also make clear the devastation and massive cleanup needed across the country.

    A rescue team evacuates women and children on a rubber boat as floodwaters hit a residential area in West SumatraImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Rescuers are racing to bring more people to safety

    Residents from North Sumatra wade through while carrying their items to safety after heavy rain poured over neighbourhoods in North Sumatra. A young child is sitting on his father's shoulders as he trudges through the floodwatersImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Thousands of families have been forced to evacuate their homes to escape the flooding

    This aerial picture shows a man wading through the floodwaters following heavy rain at a residential area on the outskirts of Banda AcehImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Nearly 1,500 people have been evacuated in Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province

    At least eight rescuers carry an orange body bag of a victim in an area hit by flash floods, following heavy rains in West SumatraImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    At least 80 people have died from the floods in Indonesia this week

    Residents use ropes to pull two cars stuck in mud caused by flooding at a residential area in PadangImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Rescue efforts and massive cleanups are underway across the affected areas in Indonesia

  7. Thailand to relocate South East Asian games to capitalpublished at 07:06 GMT 28 November

    Thailand, which is set to be the host of next month's South East Asian games, will move events for 11 sports to the capital Bangkok because of severe flooding in the south.

    Among the affected sports are muay thai, judo, wrestling, and the qualification rounds for men's football - which were originally scheduled in the flood-ravaged Hat Yai and Mueang Songkhla districts, as well as in the Chonburi province.

    The changes come less than two weeks before the games, which will run from 9 to 20 December.

    These adjustments were made "to ensure safety for athletes, officials and spectators", the organisers said on Thursday.

  8. Sri Lanka lawmaker raises concerns about stranded buspublished at 06:29 GMT 28 November

    During a parliamentary session this morning, Sri Lankan MP Ajith Perera raised concerns about an emergency situation reportedly involving a stranded bus.

    "I have been getting multiple reports of a bus that has been stranded near the Kala Wewa [a major reservoir complex in central Sri Lanka] for one and a half hours," he said, urging the government to facilitate the approval of a helicopter to rescue the passengers.

    In response, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara confirmed that the bus was stranded. He told lawmakers that police had instructed the bus to halt its journey because conditions were too dangerous to continue.

    Armed forces had already been deployed, and a helicopter had been authorised for the rescue, he added.

    “They will be rescued,” he said.

  9. Drone footage reveals wide extent of Indonesian floodspublished at 06:12 GMT 28 November

    At least 80 people have been killed and dozens remain missing after severe flooding struck Indonesia this week.

    The video below shows the scale of the flooding in North Sumatra, one of the worst-hit areas.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Drone footage shows wide extent of Indonesian floods

  10. Sri Lankan man who sheltered atop coconut tree overnight rescued by Air Forcepublished at 05:54 GMT 28 November

    Sri Lankan authorities mobilised the military on Friday to support relief and rescue operations, as the death toll from the heavy rains that battered the island nation this week rose to 56.

    Helicopters, navy boats and armoured personnel carriers have been deployed to evacuate stranded villagers across the country.

    In Aukana, Anuradhapura, a military helicopter conducted three operations this morning to rescue people stranded by the adverse weather and the overflow of the Kala Wewa, a major reservoir complex made up of two man-made lakes.

    The helicopter successfully airlifted a man who had been sheltering atop a coconut tree since yesterday evening, and six individuals stranded on the Manampitiya Bridge, the Sri Lankan Air Force said.

    The man, wearing a pink shirt, being airlifted with a solider from a flooded areaImage source, Sri Lanka Air Force
    The man, wearing a pink shirt, being airlifted with a solider from a flooded areaImage source, Sri Lanka Air Force
    The man, wearing a pink shirt, being airlifted with a solider from a flooded areaImage source, Sri Lanka Air Force
  11. Exceptionally rare for cyclones to happen in Indonesia, says researcherpublished at 05:34 GMT 28 November

    Arie Firdaus
    BBC Indonesian

    The widespread flooding and landslides hitting Indonesia over the past few days have been triggered by Cyclone Senyar.

    It is exceptionally rare for cyclones to happen in Indonesia, as they almost never form near the equator, says Erma Yulihastin, a researcher at the country's National Research and Innovation Agency’s Climate and Atmospheric Research Center (BRIN).

    On 23 November, rainfall on Sumatra’s west coast reached 160 mm (6.2in) per day - then, on 24 November, rose to 226 mm per day. These numbers far exceed Indonesia’s average monthly rainfall of around 150 mm.

    “If rainfall exceeds 100 mm in a day, it is already considered extreme - let alone reaching 200 mm,” says Erma.

    In Central Tapanuli and Sibolga - two areas on North Sumatra’s west coast - rainfall over four days reached as high as 800 mm.

  12. Floods in Thailand push city morgue beyond capacity, medic sayspublished at 05:21 GMT 28 November

    Parts of Thailand are also battling record floods, after 10 provinces were hit across the country's south over the past week.

    A morgue receiving bodies of flood victims in southern Thailand has filled up, prompting authorities to bring in three refrigerated trucks, a hospital staffer told the AFP news agency.

    "The morgue has exceeded its capacity, so we need more," said Charn, a morgue official at Songkhla Hospital who only gave his first name, after the death toll rose to 55.

    Footage filmed by an AFP journalist showed white refrigerated lorries parked outside the hospital's main building.

    Earlier this week the Thai city of Hat Yai, a business hub bordering Malaysia, recorded its heaviest rainfall on record - 335mm in a single day.

    An aerial view of a flooded landscape with submerged trees and houses in the foreground and mountainous hills in the backgroundImage source, Getty Images
  13. Indonesian leader orders more aid to be deployedpublished at 05:06 GMT 28 November

    Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered another round of aid to be distributed to the country's three affected provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

    Heavy monsoon rains have caused rivers to burst their banks, triggering flash floods and landslides across the country's Sumatra island. Communication lines and power have been cut in some areas, making rescue efforts difficult.

    "We sent around 150 tents, 64 inflatable boats, and most importantly communication devices, about 100 units to help restore communications," said Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya in a press statement released on Friday.

    "What’s important is that all aid reaches the deepest and most detailed locations."

  14. Video shows scale of flooding in Sri Lankapublished at 04:52 GMT 28 November

    A clip from the Sri Lanka Air Force shows the scale of destruction caused by the flooding.

    The video shows streets submerged under floodwaters and residents stranded on rooftops, while rescuers from a helicopter arrive to lift them away.

    Media caption,

    Sri Lankans airlifted from homes as floodwater rises

  15. Severe floods ravage Sri Lanka, killing dozenspublished at 04:39 GMT 28 November

    People stand next to a vehicle amid flooding in Sri Lanka.Image source, AFP via Getty Images

    Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst weather related disaster in recent years, with at least 56 people killed and 21 missing after floods and landslides ripped through parts of the country.

    Twenty-one people were killed in the central tea-growing district of Badulla when a landslide crashed onto their homes overnight, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said in a statement.

    Videos uploaded to social media show houses being washed away as flood waters cascade through towns, while most train services have been cancelled across the country.

    Sri Lanka is now bracing itself for more severe weather on Friday as Cyclone Ditwah moves along its eastern coast.

    You can read our story in full here.

  16. Clinging to life on a clotheslinepublished at 04:31 GMT 28 November

    North Sumatra is among the worst-hit provinces in Indonesia, where at least 12 cities and districts have been battered by floods and landslides.

    The provincial police say officials are working to expedite search efforts.

    "The team is working day and night because the terrain is quite difficult at some points due to blocked road access," says Senior Commissioner Ferry Walintukan.

    A resident in the neighbouring province of West Sumatra said the floods hit suddenly, rousing him in the middle of the night with a loud bang.

    "I looked outside, there was water everywhere," the resident Meri Osman told BBC Indonesia.

    Mr Osman then got his wife and children to climb onto a cupboard inside their home, but the water levels rose quickly and submerged the house.

    "I was swept away by the current, but I held on to the clothesline," he said. That was how he eventually got rescued.

  17. Ninety dead in Indonesia as monsoon triggers severe floodspublished at 04:29 GMT 28 November

    Fallen tree branches and debris lie on the ground near a damaged house hit by flash floods, following heavy rains in Agam, West Sumatra province, IndonesiaImage source, Reuters

    Severe flooding and landslides have killed at least 90 people in Indonesia this week as unusually intense monsoon rains slammed the island of Sumatra.

    Dramatic footage shows the deluge bursting river banks, residents inching through chest-deep waters, and vehicles and homes almost entirely submerged in brown, flooded streets - with only parts of their roofs left visible.

    Rescuers are racing to bring more people to safety, but power cuts and mudslides have hampered their search efforts.

  18. Floods cause death and destruction in South East Asia and Sri Lankapublished at 04:26 GMT 28 November

    We’re starting our live coverage as parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka battle deadly floods and landslides. Here's what we know at the moment:

    • In Indonesia, heavy rains across several areas in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra over the past few days have killed at least 90 people, and dozens more are reported missing
    • In Sri Lanka, at least 56 people have been killed and 21 are missing following floods and landslides caused by heavy rains, in one of the worst weather-related disasters the country has seen in recent years
    • At least 37 people are confirmed dead in Thailand as the country reels from flooding in 10 provinces across the country's south, including a record 335mm in a single day in the city of Hat Yai

    Stick with us while we bring you updates.