Scale of the Catastrophe in Indonesia

Tens of thousands of houses have been damaged or completely destroyed. Large areas remain without electricity, clean water and mobile communication. Rescue operations are severely complicated by continued heavy rain, blocked roads and new landslides.

Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPBBD) reports that the death toll is expected to rise as search teams reach remote mountainous regions cut off from the outside world.

Sri Lanka Also Hit Hard

The same weather system brought destruction to neighbouring Sri Lanka, where at least least 200 people have lost their lives and more than 500,000 residents have been affected by flooding and landslides.

This rare tropical cyclone — one of the few ever recorded in the southeastern Indian Ocean — has highlighted the growing concerns about changing climate patterns and extreme weather events in the region.

International aid organizations and neighbouring countries have begun sending emergency assistance, including search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies and food to both Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Updated: December 2025
Source: AFP, BNPB Indonesia, Disaster Management Centre Sri Lanka