The village of Batipuh in West Sumatra, Indonesia, is grappling with the devastating impact of flash floods that have destroyed homes, a mosque, and disrupted road access. The situation remains dire as residents struggle to recover from the disaster.

Images show people navigating a partially washed-out road on motorbikes, with debris and fallen trees littering the area on both sides.

This catastrophe marks Indonesia’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2018 earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, which claimed over 2,000 lives.

Many regions have been isolated due to blocked roads, and damage to telecommunications infrastructure has further complicated communication efforts. Relief and rescue teams have resorted to using helicopters to deliver essential supplies to those stranded in areas inaccessible by road.

Waterlogged streets in Kaduwela, on the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo at the weekend. Source: Getty / NurPhoto

Officials said the extent of the damage in the worst-affected central region was only just being revealed as relief workers cleared roads blocked by fallen trees and mudslides.

The losses and damage are the worst in Sri Lanka since the devastating 2004 Asian tsunami that killed around 31,000 people there and left more than a million homeless.

Growing outcry in Thailand over flood response

Climate change has also increased the intensity of storms, and produced more heavy rain events because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture.

This gymnasium in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, was used as an evacuation centre for people sheltering from widespread flooding late last week. Source: Getty / Sirachai Arunrugstichai

The waves of rain caused flooding that killed at least 176 people in southern Thailand, authorities said on Monday, one of the deadliest flood incidents in the country in a decade.