(MENAFN) Widespread flooding triggered by intense monsoon rains and tropical storms has left hundreds dead or missing across Southeast Asia, affecting millions in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to reports.

In Indonesia, the toll on Sumatra island has surpassed 300, with fears of further casualties as dozens remain unaccounted for. Rescue and evacuation efforts continue amid cut-off roads and limited access to electricity and internet services.

An exceptionally rare tropical cyclone, Cyclone Senyar, caused devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia, submerging thousands of homes. Residents described the sudden surge of water that engulfed entire neighborhoods. As one Aceh Province resident, Arini Amalia, recounted:
"The current was very fast, in a matter of seconds it reached the streets, entered the houses."

Returning to collect belongings the next day, she added:
"It's already sunk."

Other survivors, like Meri Osman in West Sumatra, described being swept away and clinging to a clothesline until rescued. Another resident of Bireuen, Aceh, said:
"During the flood, everything was gone. I wanted to save my clothes, but my house came down."

Heavy rains and landslides have hindered rescue operations. While tens of thousands have been evacuated, hundreds remain stranded, and reports indicate residents in Tapanuli have looted grocery stores for food. Pressure is mounting on Jakarta to declare a national disaster to enable a more coordinated response.

In Thailand, southern provinces, including Songkhla, have been severely affected. Floodwaters in Songkhla rose as high as three meters (10 feet), resulting in at least 145 deaths in the worst flooding in a decade. Across ten provinces, more than 160 people have died, with over 3.8 million impacted. Hat Yai city recorded 335mm of rain in a single day, its heaviest rainfall in 300 years.

Hospitals in Hat Yai struggled to manage casualties, with refrigerated trucks used to store bodies as morgues were overwhelmed. Local resident Thanita Khiawhom recounted:
"We were stuck in the water for seven days and no agency came to help."

Authorities have pledged relief measures, including compensation of up to two million baht ($62,000) for families who lost loved ones.

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