The southern part of Thailand has been mainly affected, where local authorities reported 145 fatalities. As a result of the flooding, more than 3.6 million people have become victims of the disaster, and 1.2 million households have been flooded, as reported by the Associated Press (AP) citing the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. In the city of Hat Yai, the water level reached 1.5-3 meters, and it is being completely evacuated.
On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, local authorities reported that at least 111 people died this week, with around 100 people still missing. According to North Sumatra police representative Ferry Walintukan, emergency services are actively engaged in evacuating and providing assistance to those affected, although access to some areas remains difficult. In Malaysia, there have also been two reported fatalities due to flooding that has submerged entire areas in the northern state of Perlis.
The cause of the flooding has been heavy monsoon rains and a tropical storm. Despite the fact that the monsoon season occurs annually, the number of casualties in Indonesia and Thailand has become one of the highest in recent years, as noted by experts interviewed by AFP.
