Recent flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand have caused severe devastation. More than 1,300 people have died, and over 1.2 million residents in Indonesia are displaced, many living in temporary shelters under difficult conditions.

    When rain began pelting villages on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, residents thought it could simply be another wet season storm. But then it got heavier and it did not stop for days. When floodwater began rising through their homes, the residents realised how much trouble they were in. Siti Nurbaya Siregar and her family had to scramble to the roof once the water rose to their ________________ necks.

"I was rescued by my neighbour on a tiny boat," the Langkat region resident said.

"It was loaded with my children, my mum, other relatives. Altogether, seven of us were on it.

"At one point the boat almost flipped over on the way to the rescue point." Half of the homes in her village were destroyed.

    Sri Lanka also reported more than 218,000 people in shelters, while rescue teams continue searching for missing residents.

    

   Governments in the region have promised reconstruction, but displaced communities continue to demand more immediate support such as food, shelter, and medical care.

Swanston, Tim, and Ari Wu. "South-East Asian Floods Leave More Than 1 Million People Homeless Across Indonesia and Sri Lanka." ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025.