More than 1,300 people have lost their lives following a devastating series of cyclonic storms and floods that swept through Southeast Asia last month, in what regional experts describe as a stark preview of a climate-changed future.
A Catastrophic Convergence of Storms
Officials confirm the staggering death toll includes more than 750 fatalities in Indonesia, 400 in Sri Lanka, and 200 in Thailand, with three deaths in Malaysia. A further 800 individuals remain unaccounted for. Millions have been affected, with villages isolated for days after critical infrastructure was destroyed, forcing tens of thousands into emergency shelters.
The disaster was triggered by an unprecedented sequence of three cyclonic systems. First, Typhoon Koto (Verbena) formed on 23 November, moving from the Philippines towards Vietnam. This was followed by the rare Cyclone Senyar, which spun up in the Strait of Malacca to lash Indonesia, Malaysia, and southern Thailand. Finally, Tropical Cyclone Ditwah crossed Sri Lanka before skirting India's coast.
Meteorologist Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather explained that unusually warm seas around the region, with temperatures of 29-30°C, created a perfect environment for 'cyclogenesis' – the birth and rapid intensification of storms. "The gap between these cycles was very less. We have not seen such frequent effects," he stated, noting the storms arrived in quick succession rather than with the typical 15-20 day gap.
Disaster Magnified by Human Action
While the extreme weather provided the trigger, activists and analysts argue that human activities dramatically worsened the impact, creating 'compound disasters'.
In Indonesia's Aceh province, relentless rain on 26 November triggered floods and landslides that submerged towns and displaced nearly 300,000 people. Farwiza Farhan, chairperson of HAkA, blamed decades of environmental degradation. "What we are seeing... is not just the result of extreme weather. It is a disaster magnified by greed," she said. "Illegal logging and unauthorised land-clearing... stripped the hills of their natural sponge."
In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah brought torrential rain that triggered landslides in the central highlands. Climate activist Melani Gunathilaka reported from the hill country, stating the official death toll of 400 likely underestimates the true scale. "There are still bodies under soil," she said, highlighting how deforestation and large development projects on steep slopes increased landslide risks, particularly for vulnerable tea-estate workers.
A Dire Warning and the Path to Resilience
The science behind the catastrophe is clear: a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall, while hotter oceans provide extra energy for cyclones. Matt Sechovsky of BMI research firm noted the impact was driven by natural phenomena exacerbated by climate change and human activity, from building on floodplains to poor infrastructure planning.
Regional experts now issue a severe warning. Without rapid cuts in fossil-fuel emissions and serious investment in resilience – including restoring forests and wetlands, enforcing planning rules, and strengthening early-warning systems – disasters of this magnitude may become regular rather than rare occurrences. The events of November 2025 serve as a tragic testament to the escalating costs of inaction on both the climate and ecological fronts.
