Southeast Asia Floods: Death Toll Climbs, Homes Submerged

Heavy rains have triggered deadly flooding and landslides across Southeast Asia, with the death toll now exceeding 100. Vietnam has confirmed 91 fatalities and 11 missing, while five people have died in Thailand. Tens of thousands have been displaced as severe inundation submerges homes, particularly in Vietnam's central region and Thailand's southern provinces.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with helicopters distributing aid in Vietnam and emergency crews using lifeboats in Thailand. Significant economic damage, estimated at $500 million in Vietnam alone, has also occurred, impacting vital agricultural sectors like coffee production. Authorities warn that further rainfall and new tropical depressions could exacerbate the situation later in the week.

This severe weather impacts a region already grappling with climate change-intensified storms. Vietnam faces repeated flooding, with recent typhoons causing billions in damage and displacing hundreds of thousands. Malaysia is also experiencing widespread flooding, with over 12,500 people evacuated from nine states, underscoring the increasing vulnerability of Southeast Asia to extreme weather events.