Very heavy monsoon rains have caused terrible floods and landslides in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. More than 100 people have died, and tens of thousands have left their homes. Rescue workers are trying to find survivors in very difficult and dangerous conditions.
In Sri Lanka, the floods have killed more than 40 people. The worst damage is in the central, mountainous areas where people grow tea. Trains have stopped, and important roads are closed. Rescue teams are using helicopters and boats because rivers and reservoirs are overflowing.
At the same time, in Indonesia, 69 people have died on the island of Sumatra. Another 59 people are missing. Mudslides have buried houses, including one that killed a family of four. Thousands of houses are under water. Nearly 50,000 people are now staying in government shelters. Rescue crews are using special tools and rubber boats, but mudslides and broken communications are making their work very hard.
Officials in both countries say the situation is still very serious. They think the number of deaths will probably increase because many people are missing and some areas are impossible to reach. One local leader directly asked for an excavator machine to help with the recovery.
These disasters show a familiar and sad pattern. For Sri Lanka, these are the worst monsoon deaths since last June. The country needs monsoon rain for farming and electricity, but experts say climate change is making these rains stronger and more frequent. The events in both countries remind us that being prepared for disasters is extremely important for vulnerable places.