Extremely heavy monsoon rains, made worse by cyclones, have caused terrible flooding and landslides across Asia. Indonesia has been hit especially hard. In the last week, more than 1,200 people have died in the region, and around one million people have been forced to leave their homes. The island of Sumatra is one of the worst affected areas. There, continuous rain from Tropical Cyclone Senyar has led to over 750 deaths in three provinces.
The destruction in the village of Meureudu, in Aceh province, shows the scale of the disaster. Last week, powerful floodwaters not only filled homes but also ripped a hydroelectric generator from the ground at a local school. This shows how important infrastructure is being damaged. Indonesia’s disaster agency is organizing a major relief effort, but it is very difficult to reach people because roads are destroyed and the land is unstable from mudslides.
Climate scientists say these are not just random weather events. They are signs of a changing climate system. Natural weather patterns, like La Niña, created good conditions for storms. However, experts stress that human-caused global warming is making the situation much worse. "A warmer ocean and atmosphere put more water into these weather systems," explains climate scientist Roxy Koll. "This means that even average cyclones now produce rain that rivers cannot hold, which causes slopes to collapse and leads to multiple disasters."
The science behind this is clear: for every 1°C increase in temperature, the air can hold about 7% more moisture. This leads to rain that is heavier and lasts longer than before. "The storms are wetter and more destructive because the basic climate conditions have changed," says Koll. "Water, not wind, is now the main cause of the damage."
The immediate need is to shelter displaced people and stop the spread of disease. However, the long-term situation is worrying. Poor communities living near rivers or on hillsides are most at risk from these extreme weather events. Climate reports predict a "large increase" in serious flooding for monsoon regions in Asia as the world gets hotter. This current disaster is a serious warning of a future where monsoon seasons will more often bring catastrophic rains. This requires better preparation for disasters and urgent global action to tackle the root causes of climate change.