Last week, torrential rainfall in Indonesia’s largest island, Sumatra, led to catastrophic flash floods and landslides.
The devastating weather event has left a trail of destruction in North Sumatra, where 20 people died earlier this week, and 7 more lives were lost in a landslide that occurred on Thursday.
The landslide struck a crucial access route between Medan, the provincial capital, and surrounding areas, burying vehicles, including a tourist bus, in mud, rocks, and trees.
More than 10 people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with several vehicles still trapped in the debris.
The North Sumatra traffic director estimates that it may take up to two days to fully evacuate those affected by the disaster.
Flash floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, especially between October and March, due to the seasonal rainfall caused by the Asia-Australia monsoon circulation system.
Countries across the region are on high alert for more extreme weather in the coming weeks.This system brings increased water vapor to Indonesia, leading to extreme weather conditions.
The upcoming La Niña phase is expected to exacerbate this risk, as it strengthens the winds and pushes more moisture into the region.
In addition to Indonesia’s crisis, neighboring countries have also faced severe weather. In Malaysia and Thailand, heavy rainfall from the monsoon has caused widespread flash flooding.
Between Wednesday and Thursday this week, some regions saw over 90mm of rain, displacing over 50,000 people in Malaysia and affecting more than 135,000 households in Thailand.
Both countries are providing urgent disaster relief and evacuations to affected areas.
Authorities have warned that heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the region, heightening concerns about further flooding and disruption.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, a tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal has caused strong winds and intense rainfall, leading to the displacement of more than 250,000 people.
The storm, which has claimed 12 lives and left six children missing, may intensify into a tropical storm, potentially affecting neighboring regions by the weekend.