The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned of deadly Asia floods as extreme rains batter the region. Devastating monsoon rains and tropical cyclones have unleashed catastrophic flooding across parts of South and Southeast Asia, killing hundreds of people, displacing communities and causing major economic disruption, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said at a UN press briefing in Geneva. Clare Nullis, a WMO official, said that the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are among the worst hit, as monsoon-related downpours combine with tropical typhoons.

Floods remain among the region’s top hazards, and rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of more intense rainfall, she warned. Ricardo Pires, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said more than 275,000 children have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which brought severe flooding and landslides after making landfall on the east coast of Asia on November 28. With many areas still inaccessible, the true figure could be higher, he added.

The disaster highlighted the need to further strengthen regional forecasting systems, expand coping capacities and increase data sharing, Nullis said. The Asia-Pacific region is facing the world’s record typhoon activity, and no single institution or country can deal with tropical cyclones or climate change alone, she said.