Asia is reeling from the combined impact of deadly cyclones and relentless monsoon rains, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) describing the disaster as "like a tsunami" in terms of its destructive scale.

Worst-hit nations and WMO's assessment

Clare Nullis, WMO spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam are among the countries hardest hit. She attributed the catastrophe to "a combination of monsoon-related rainfall and tropical cyclone activity" – a deadly mix that has triggered widespread chaos.

Nullis highlighted the rarity of tropical cyclone Senyar, which last week battered northern Sumatra (Indonesia), peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. The storm unleashed "torrential rainfall, widespread flooding and landslides" – an event she stressed is highly unusual so close to the Equator.

"It's not something that we see very often, and it means the impacts are magnified because local communities have got no experience in this," she explained. She also noted that flooding consistently tops the list of climate hazards in Asia, citing WMO's annual State Of The Climate reports, and emphasized: "Asia is very, very vulnerable to floods."

Devastating toll across regions

Indonesia: Quoting data from the Indonesian National Disaster Office, as of Tuesday, Nullis said the country has recorded 604 fatalities, 464 missing people and 2,600 injuries. Around 1.5 million people have been affected, with over 570,000 displaced from their homes.

Vietnam: The Southeast Asian nation has been "battered for weeks" and is now "bracing for yet more heavy rainfall," Nullis revealed. Exceptional rains in recent weeks have flooded historic sites and popular tourist resorts, causing massive damage. In late October, a meteorological station in central Vietnam logged a national 24-hour rainfall record of 1,739 millimetres – a figure Nullis called "really enormous." She added it is "the second-highest known total anywhere in the world for 24-hour rainfall" and noted the WMO's Extremes Evaluation Committee is formally assessing the data. A reading above 1,700 mm would set a new record for both the Northern Hemisphere and Asia.

Sri Lanka: Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on the country's east coast last week, turning the situation into a "fast-moving humanitarian emergency," according to Ricardo Pires, spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). The cyclone has affected around 1.4 million people, including 275,000 children. Pires warned that "with communications down and roads blocked, the true number of children impacted is likely even higher." Homes have been swept away, entire communities cut off and essential services for children – such as clean water, healthcare and schooling – severely disrupted. He also noted that displacement has forced families into unsafe, overcrowded shelters, while flooding and damaged water systems are raising the risk of disease outbreaks. "The needs far outweigh the available resources right now," Pires said, appealing for more humanitarian funding to support vulnerable groups.

UN's response and condolences

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep sadness over the loss of life across the region. In a statement released by his spokesperson, he extended condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed solidarity with all those affected.

The UN has also pledged to support relief efforts, with officials stating: "The United Nations is in close contact with authorities in all four countries and stands ready to support relief and response efforts. UN Country Teams remain at the disposal of governments to provide necessary assistance."

Climate change link

Nullis linked the intensity of the devastating weather to climate change, explaining that rising global temperatures "increase the potential risk of more extreme rainfall because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture."

"That's the law of physics," she concluded. "We are seeing more extreme rainfall, and we will continue to do so in the future."