Asia floods prompt widespread travel disruption amid ongoing crises

Severe flooding driven by torrential monsoon rainfall and recent tropical cyclones has left more than 1,428 people dead across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, with millions affected and large-scale evacuations underway, according to national disaster agencies.

In Indonesia, authorities reported 830 fatalities with at least 500 people still missing, and more than 880,000 displaced. President Prabowo Subianto said “the worst has passed, hopefully” during an assessment visit to North Sumatra, noting that three warships, two hospital ships, and multiple aircraft had been deployed to carry aid. Several overland tourist routes in Sumatra – including corridors linking Medan, Bukittinggi, and Padang – have been severely disrupted due to landslides and road collapses, prompting officials to advise travellers to avoid non-essential ground travel.

Sri Lanka has recorded 410 deaths, with 366 people missing, after Cyclone Ditwah forced the evacuation of 61,612 families – amounting to 218,526 people – into 1,564 safety centres. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency, describing the catastrophe as “the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history” and appealing for international assistance. Military helicopters and ground forces are supporting rescues, although one aircraft crashed north of Colombo during operations. While the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has stated that most major tourist areas remain operational, several hill-country destinations – including parts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya – have experienced significant flooding and landslide damage, with some hotels relocating guests.

Thailand has confirmed 185 deaths, with 367 missing and over four million people impacted. Local authorities are offering Bt9,000 compensation and interest-free recovery loans to residents. Flooding has also caused transport disruption across southern provinces, with local media reporting flight, rail, and bus cancellations affecting domestic and cross-border travel. Malaysia has reported three fatalities linked to the severe weather.

Across the region, floodwaters have submerged homes, triggered landslides, and displaced families who, in some cases, waited on rooftops or clung to trees for rescue. The Indonesian disaster is the country’s deadliest since the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami.

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