WMO warns of deadly Asia floods as extreme rains batter region

3/12/2025 8:01

Devastating monsoon rains and tropical cyclones have unleashed catastrophic flooding across parts of South and Southeast Asia, killing hundreds of people, displacing communities and causing major economic disruption, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Tuesday.



Clare Nullis, a WMO official, told a UN press briefing in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka are among the worst hit, as monsoon-related downpours combine with tropical typhoons.



Floods remain among the region's top hazards, and rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of more intense rainfall, she warned.



In Sumatra, Indonesia, national authorities report more than 600 deaths and over 460 people missing, with over 1.5 million people affected.