Hundreds killed across Asia as torrential rain triggers landslides and flooding

Days of devastating flooding across South-east Asia and Sri Lanka have killed hundreds of people, authorities said on Friday.

Heavy monsoon rains across Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia paired with a tropical storm inundated areas, stranding residents on rooftops and cutting off entire communities. More than 300 people have been killed across the three countries.

In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah swept northwards across the island on Friday, leaving 69 dead and 34 missing.

Rescuers in Indonesia were struggling to reach the worst-affected areas on Sumatra island, while authorities at a southern Thailand hospital brought in refrigerated lorries to store bodies after the morgue exceeded capacity.

A bridge damaged by flash floods on the main road connecting Aceh and North Sumatra in Meureudu, Indonesia. AFP

In West Sumatra province, 53-year-old Indonesian Misniati described a terrifying battle against rising floodwaters to reach her husband at home.

She said that, returning from early morning prayers at a mosque, “I noticed the street was flooded”.

“I tried to run back to my house to tell my husband, and the water was already reaching my waist,” she said, adding that it was up to her chest by the time she reached home. “We didn't sleep at all last night, we just monitored the water.”

Officials on Sumatra said flooding and landslides this week had killed at least 174 people, with nearly 80 more missing. National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto said the toll could grow as rescuers reach isolated areas.

“There are locations that still cannot be reached … where it is indicated that there may be victims in those areas that are unreachable,” he said.

In Aceh province in Sumatra's north, receding water left behind cars buried in mud almost up to their windows.