Severe floods and landslides continue to wreak havoc across Southeast Asia, with relentless rainfall destroying homes, submerging croplands, and claiming dozens of lives. Officials warn that more intense weather is expected in the coming days, deepening a crisis that has already displaced thousands of families.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Vietnam

Vietnam remains the hardest-hit country, where authorities confirmed one additional death on Monday, raising the nationwide toll to 91 deaths in just over a week. Catastrophic flooding has overwhelmed many provinces, particularly in the mountainous central region.

The province of Dak Lak has reported the highest number of fatalities, with at least 63 people drowning due to sudden surges of floodwater. Other provinces, including Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Danang, Hue, and Quang Tri, have also experienced widespread destruction as landslides and rapid flooding transform the south-central region into a disaster zone.

Experts warn that nearly half of Vietnam’s population—over 50 million people—live in flood-prone areas, making the country especially vulnerable to extreme weather. Scientists emphasize that human-induced climate change is intensifying rainfall, leading to more frequent and more severe flooding events.

Massive Damage to Infrastructure and Agriculture

Vietnam has suffered at least $500 million in economic losses, with entire neighborhoods submerged and vast agricultural regions destroyed. Fields, farms, and livestock have been wiped out, threatening food security and livelihoods for rural communities.

In response, the government has mobilized tens of thousands of emergency personnel to deliver food, medicine, and essential supplies. Helicopters are being used to reach isolated areas in the highlands, where roads and bridges have been washed away.

Thailand Battling Record-Breaking Rainfall

Thailand is also experiencing devastating impacts. Flash floods have swept across the southern provinces, affecting close to two million people according to officials.

The city of Hat Yai, a major commercial hub in Songkhla province, recorded 335 mm (13 inches) of rain in just 24 hours on Friday—the highest rainfall measurement in 300 years. Between Wednesday and Friday, total precipitation nearly doubled that amount.

Heavy rain is expected to continue, adding to an already difficult year in Thailand, which saw at least 25 deaths from severe flooding in December.

Malaysia Evacuates Thousands as Waters Rise

In Malaysia, more than 12,500 residents have been forced to evacuate as floodwaters rise across multiple regions. The northeastern state of Kelantan, which borders Thailand, is currently the worst affected, with over 8,000 people displaced. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported so far.

Storms Follow a Season of Powerful Typhoons

This latest round of flooding comes shortly after destructive typhoons slammed into Southeast Asia in September and October. According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), Vietnam alone suffered $1.2 billion in damage, with more than 500,000 homes impacted and hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate.

Communities are still recovering from those storms, making the current flooding even more catastrophic.