Typhoon Yagi has unleashed devastation across Southeast Asia, bringing floods and landslides that have left a staggering death toll of nearly 350 people in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The tragedy, which hit the region last weekend, has ravaged communities, and many are still grappling with the aftermath. As rescue operations continue, harrowing stories from survivors and volunteers are coming to light, offering a glimpse into the overwhelming destruction.
In Myanmar, one of the hardest-hit countries, locals have described heart-wrenching scenes of destruction. On September 10, the town of Kalaw in Shan state saw floodwaters rise up to 15 feet (about four meters), sweeping through buildings and carrying furniture down the streets. A man working with a local non-governmental group recounted his brave attempts to rescue people using ropes, even as the strong current threatened to overpower everything in its path. “The current was very strong, and even some buildings were destroyed," he said. “I could see trapped families in the distance standing on the roofs of their houses." His somber words painted a vivid picture of the disaster's impact.
The devastation didn’t stop there. In Kalaw alone, reports suggest that around 60 people have lost their lives. According to a businesswoman in Yangon who runs a company in Kalaw, her staff reported that nearly 60 people had perished. However, Myanmar's military junta has not provided detailed numbers for the town, though they have acknowledged a death toll of 74 across the country. As of Friday evening, official figures reported 74 dead, 89 missing, and more than 235,000 people displaced by the catastrophic floods. With limited access to damaged roads, bridges, and broken communication lines, information has been slow to emerge from affected areas.
Adding to the chaos, the floodwaters also wreaked havoc at the tourist hotspot of Inle Lake, a mere 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from Kalaw. By Saturday, the water had risen to the second story of houses built on stilts above the lake, submerging entire villages. “The elders say this is the highest level of flooding they have seen," shared a local man helping to evacuate his family. He also explained that villagers had lost essential food supplies like rice and salt, and were now reliant on drinking rainwater, with no alternatives in sight once the rainwater runs out.
The images coming out of Inle Lake are nothing short of dramatic. The floodwaters rise high against the wooden houses that usually float above the lake's surface, and the scale of the destruction is palpable. Cars and trucks carrying volunteers, laden with bottled water, dried food, and clothes, have been seen making their way north from Yangon to deliver aid. Some even had boats strapped to their roofs, ready for the arduous task of reaching isolated communities. “We want to help anyone who needs help at the moment. That is why we arranged to go to the flooding area," said one woman headed for Taungoo, an area badly affected by the disaster.
However, the floods aren’t the only hardship facing the people of Myanmar. For over three years, the country has been ravaged by war since the military seized power in 2021. Millions have been displaced, and the current flooding has only compounded their misery. On top of that, the junta has been criticized for its response, or lack thereof, to previous disasters. The military government has typically frustrated or blocked international humanitarian aid, making it difficult for relief efforts to gain traction. For instance, last year, they suspended travel authorizations for aid groups trying to help victims of Cyclone Mocha, which affected nearly a million people.
Amid the current crisis, Myanmar's junta leader made a rare move by requesting foreign aid to deal with the floods. This is a significant shift from their usual stance, as the military has been known to resist outside assistance. However, both the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) declined to comment on this request, leaving questions about how aid will be delivered unanswered.
The floods have highlighted a much broader problem facing Southeast Asia: the impact of human-made climate change. While monsoon rains are an annual occurrence, experts warn that climate change is causing more intense and frequent weather patterns, which in turn are making these floods even more destructive. A study published in July revealed that climate change is causing typhoons to form closer to the coast, intensify faster, and linger longer over land, all of which increases the risk of devastating floods like the one caused by Typhoon Yagi.
The situation remains dire across the region. In Thailand, the weather office warned of further heavy rains in provinces along the Mekong River, raising fears of more flooding. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, authorities have updated the death toll to a sobering 281, with 67 people still missing. Back in Myanmar, both the Sittaung and Bago rivers, which flow through central and southern parts of the country, remained above dangerous levels as of Sunday. Although water levels are expected to drop in the coming days, it’s a race against time to help those stranded by the floods.
For those involved in the relief efforts, every bit of assistance matters. Trucks and cars filled with palettes of bottled water, food, and clothing continue to make their way into the hardest-hit areas, but with limited infrastructure, the journey is slow and perilous. Volunteers, both local and from farther afield, are risking their own safety to bring relief to those in need. Despite the junta’s previous reluctance to cooperate with international aid efforts, the scale of this disaster may force a change in approach.
In the end, the floods caused by Typhoon Yagi are a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that many countries face in the wake of climate change. Communities across Southeast Asia are resilient, but the challenges they face—from war to extreme weather—are becoming more severe. With international aid possibly on the way, the focus will shift to rebuilding, but the road ahead is long and fraught with uncertainty. Only time will tell how quickly these affected regions can recover from this latest catastrophe.
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