Southeast Asia Overwhelmed by New Storm Patterns and Grappled with Catastrophic Flooding: A Glimpse into Our Climate Future

Published on December 3, 2025

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, along with other Southeast Asian nations, are currently dealing with rising water and widespread destruction, along with a new level of flooding and natural disasters. Living in a storm and constant rain claimed over 1400 people and left many homeless due to new extreme events. Many in new areas can not return due to a loss of housing from previously established communities. Nations can not relieve extreme events from damage caused by loss of housing. Climate scientists are warning and predicting that these events loss of housing will be reoccurring due to a rising climate crisis.

A Year of Devastating Floods Across Southeast Asia

This year has seen some of the worst floods Southeast Asia has experienced in decades. In Indonesia, entire communities have been cut off, with bridges and roads washed away, making access to basic necessities nearly impossible. The situation is equally dire in Sri Lanka, where flooding has left more than a million people without access to clean water, and in Thailand, where the government’s response has been criticized for its inadequacy. Malaysia, too, is grappling with one of its worst floods, displacing thousands of families and leaving at least three dead. The region is facing not just a humanitarian crisis, but a stark warning about the climate future.

Despite the severe toll on human lives and infrastructure, scientists say that these types of extreme weather events are becoming increasingly predictable due to climate change. Southeast Asia, already one of the most vulnerable regions to natural disasters, is feeling the full force of the climate crisis. In fact, the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, setting the stage for more intense storms and floods.

The Climate Crisis in Southeast Asia: A Growing Concern

Scientists warn that the worst is yet to come. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, the leader of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Malaysia, cautioned that Southeast Asia should brace for even more extreme weather events in the coming years. She explained that climate change is turbocharging storm systems, making them not only more frequent but also more intense. Rising ocean temperatures and shifting atmospheric conditions provide more energy for storms, making them stronger and wetter.

Benjamin Horton, a professor of Earth science at the City University of Hong Kong, also emphasized the role of warming seas in intensifying storm surges. He added that storms are arriving later in the year, sometimes one after another, due to changes in air and ocean currents. As the typhoon season extends, the frequency and unpredictability of these storms will continue to grow.

The Unpreparedness of Southeast Asian Governments

Despite the increasing severity of these weather events, many Southeast Asian governments were caught off guard by the storms. Aslam Perwaiz of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok highlighted the lack of preparation, explaining that governments in the region tend to focus more on responding to disasters rather than taking proactive steps to prepare for them. He warned that as the climate crisis worsens, future disasters will leave even less time for governments to act.

In Sri Lanka, the situation is particularly dire. Human-rights researcher Sarala Emmanuel noted that the poor and marginalized communities are always the hardest hit in disasters like these. In the areas most affected by the floods, communities that were already vulnerable to landslides and poverty are now facing even greater hardship.

The Role of Deforestation in Amplifying Flood Damage

In addition to poor disaster preparedness, unregulated development and deforestation have significantly worsened the impact of the floods. In Indonesia, footage showing logs being swept away in floodwaters raised concerns about illegal logging. Since 2000, large areas of forest in flood-prone regions of Indonesia have been lost, leading to increased vulnerability to flooding.

Experts agree that such environmental degradation needs to be addressed if Southeast Asia hopes to mitigate the impacts of future natural disasters. Sandun Thudugala, of the Colombo-based non-profit Law and Society Trust, stressed the need for countries like Sri Lanka to rethink their development strategies and plan for a future where extreme weather events are no longer anomalies but a regular occurrence.

Billions of Dollars Lost as Economies Struggle to Recover

The economic toll of these disasters is staggering. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are losing billions of dollars annually due to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. Vietnam has estimated over $3 billion in losses in just the first 11 months of this year, while Thailand’s agricultural losses alone have reached $47 million since August. In Sri Lanka, the devastation from the floods comes on top of an already dire economic situation, as the country struggles to recover from a financial crisis that has left many of its citizens impoverished.

The cost of these disasters is exacerbated by the limited climate financing available to developing nations. Despite promises at international climate summits like COP30, funding for climate adaptation remains insufficient. Thudugala and other experts have called for vulnerable countries like Sri Lanka to be compensated for the loss and damages they incur due to global warming, emphasizing that the funds promised at global forums have yet to materialize.

A Stark Reminder of the Climate Crisis’ Consequences

As Southeast Asia reels from these catastrophic floods, the message from climate scientists is clear: the region is at a crossroads. While countries are making progress in adopting renewable energy, they remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The region’s ability to adapt to the escalating climate crisis will depend on its willingness to transition to more sustainable practices and take immediate steps to address the underlying causes of climate change.

Thomas Houlie from the Climate Analytics institute summed up the situation, calling the ongoing crisis a “stark reminder” of the devastating consequences of ignoring the climate crisis. For Southeast Asia, the time to act is now.

Looking Ahead: Climate Action Is the Only Solution

The ongoing climate catastrophe in Southeast Asia serves as a powerful reminder that the region is on the front lines of the global climate crisis. With rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and more extreme weather events, the future for Southeast Asia looks increasingly uncertain. However, there is hope. If governments, industries, and individuals take collective action to curb emissions, invest in sustainable practices, and adapt to the changing climate, Southeast Asia can begin to turn the tide on the devastating impact of climate change.