More than 1,000 killed as deadly storms cause flooding and landslides across Asia

CNN:

Heavy rainfall has unleashed widespread flooding and landslides across Asia, killing more than 1,000 people and creating treacherous search and rescue operations for hundreds more still missing.

Millions of people are dealing with intense flooding after cyclone-fueled downpours battered parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Sri Lanka was struck by a separate storm, leaving some areas submerged and creating the most difficult rescue operation the country’s ever seen, according to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

“This is the first time the entire country has been struck by such a disaster,” he said in an address to the nation, Reuters reported, suggesting the breadth of devastation has surpassed that caused by the Asian tsunami in 2004.

Across Asia, the severe weather has so far claimed the lives of at least 502 people in Indonesia, 355 in Sri Lanka, 176 in Thailand and two in Malaysia, according to officials – taking the total to 1,035.