In a year marked by relentless storms and unprecedented floods, Southeast Asia has found itself grappling with the devastating consequences of extreme weather events. Vietnam and Thailand, two countries no stranger to seasonal rains, have been hit particularly hard in recent weeks, with loss of life, widespread displacement, and staggering economic damage underscoring the growing vulnerability of the region to climate extremes.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Vietnam, the country has endured a staggering 14 storms and 5 tropical depressions in the East Sea so far in 2025. With Storm Koto strengthening into a full-blown storm on the night of November 25 and entering the East Sea, the total number of storms and tropical depressions this year has reached 20—matching the record set in 2017. The relentless pace of these disasters has left communities reeling and authorities scrambling to respond.
The human toll in Vietnam is sobering. As reported at a recent forum on disaster forecasting and early warning, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, natural disasters in 2025 have left 409 people dead or missing and inflicted more than $3.2 billion in losses. The destruction has been widespread: 337,297 houses have either collapsed, been swept away, severely damaged, or lost their roofs. Agricultural losses are equally severe, with 553,417 hectares of rice and other crops, along with 376,792 hectares of other plants, flooded and damaged.
Nguyen Ton Quan, deputy head of the Department of Community-based Disaster Risk Management and Communication under the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, painted a grim picture of the situation. "Extreme heavy rainfall and historically unprecedented flooding across 13 river basins in the northern and central regions have caused severe floods in urban areas and low-lying regions, including major tourist cities like Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang," Quan noted at the forum. Many of these areas were hit by multiple types of disasters in rapid succession—storm after storm, flood after flood, flash floods, and landslides—especially in the northern mountainous and midland and central regions.
These compound disasters have not only threatened lives and livelihoods but have also posed serious risks to disaster-prevention infrastructure, public works, and Vietnam's extensive dyke systems. Quan warned that, despite the calendar inching toward year's end, the risk of major floods in the central region remains high, particularly if Storm Koto makes landfall. Local authorities, he advised, must focus on overcoming the consequences of recent floods to be ready for whatever comes next.
Vietnamese officials are not standing still. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has outlined an ambitious plan to strengthen the country's disaster preparedness. This includes increasing the density of rainfall monitoring stations, enhancing the quality of heavy-rain forecasting, and developing detailed natural disaster warning maps—especially ones that pinpoint areas at risk of flash floods and landslides down to the village and hamlet level. The ministry also intends to review, arrange, and relocate residents living in high-risk areas, particularly those prone to landslides and flash floods in mountainous regions and deep flooding in low-lying areas. In addition, there are plans to adjust crop and livestock structures to promote more nature-aligned, efficient, and sustainable practices that can better withstand the wrath of nature.
While Vietnam has battled storms and floods largely in its northern and central regions, Thailand has faced its own deluge in the south. As of Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the death toll from days of relentless flooding in southern Thailand had risen to 33, with tens of thousands displaced in both Thailand and neighboring Malaysia, according to government officials cited by AFP. The Thai government declared a state of emergency in Songkhla province on Tuesday, November 25, after torrential rains since late last week inundated the region, including the tourist hub of Hat Yai. Photographs from the scene show murky brown floodwaters submerging streets and ground floors of residential buildings in the city, a stark reminder of the power of nature unleashed.
Siripong Angkasakulkiat, a Thai government spokesman, told reporters, "Authorities say 33 people have died across seven provinces, with causes including flash floods, electrocution and drowning." The disaster prevention and mitigation department reported that severe flooding has spread to seven southern provinces, home to several million people. The flooding has stranded residents and travelers alike, with rescuers forced to use boats, jet skis, and military trucks to navigate the high waters.
The Thai military has thrown its weight behind rescue and relief efforts, deploying an aircraft carrier and mobilizing helicopters to airlift patients to hospitals. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Songkhla since last week, and university campuses have been converted into shelters for the displaced. In a bid to stave off hunger, the Songkhla provincial administration has set up food centers capable of distributing up to 20,000 food boxes a day to flood victims.
Thailand regularly experiences heavy rainfall from June to September, but experts have warned that human-induced climate change is intensifying these events, making weather patterns more unpredictable and disasters more severe. The current crisis is a stark illustration of this trend, with the region's infrastructure and emergency response systems stretched to their limits.
The flooding has not stopped at Thailand's borders. In neighboring Malaysia, days of heavy rain have swept through eight states, prompting the evacuation of more than 27,000 people to temporary shelters in November 2025. One death was recorded in Kelantan, one of the worst-hit states. The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned that thunderstorms would continue until Wednesday, November 26, particularly in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak.
Malaysia's foreign ministry has been closely monitoring the situation, especially after thousands of Malaysian holidaymakers were stranded in hotels in southern Thailand last week. In a statement, the ministry assured, "Most of the affected Malaysians had been staying in multi-storey hotels and have been accounted for." As of Monday, November 24, more than 6,300 Malaysians had safely crossed the border out of Thailand and arrived home.
Floods are an annual phenomenon in Malaysia, driven by the northeast monsoon that brings heavy rain from November to March. Yet, as with Thailand and Vietnam, the scale and frequency of recent disasters have left many wondering how much longer communities can cope without significant changes to infrastructure, planning, and regional cooperation.
As the region recovers from this latest round of devastation, the resolve to adapt and build resilience has never been more urgent. For Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, the lessons of 2025 are clear: the climate is changing, and so too must their strategies for survival.
