Torrential rains and typhoons kill dozens and leave hundreds missing across Asia

Extreme monsoon rains and typhoons struck Asian countries from Afghanistan to Taiwan, triggering large-scale flooding and deadly landslides.

In eastern Afghanistan, prolonged downpours destroyed stone and mud dwellings. Dur Baba resident Anar Gul shared that he had never witnessed such rainfall, while his neighbor, Said Afsar Sadat, noted that the rains grow more intense each year, destroying roads and wiping out crops. Floods in Afghanistan claimed dozens of lives, with many more reported missing. Similar conditions were reported in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

In the Banshkhali district of Bangladesh, record rainfall caused a flash flood. Local resident Jesmin Akter lost her home and belongings alongside her six children, carrying them through floodwaters to her mother's house.

"We lost everything… We have no money. We survive on food assistance," she shared, adding that her children now sleep on a wet floor and her daughter developed a high fever.

In China, water levels in numerous rivers exceeded critical thresholds. A landslide in Chongqing and flooding in Gansu province claimed dozens of lives. Typhoon Noul prompted mass evacuations in Guangdong province, while the preceding Typhoon Maysak flooded Guangxi, causing hundreds of snakes to escape from local snake farms. Meteorologists project that northern China, including Beijing, will experience significantly higher precipitation levels than usual this summer alongside an increased frequency of typhoons.

In Taiwan, torrential downpours inflicted severe damage on the agricultural sector, while Taipei recorded its highest rainfall for the month in over a century. Heavy rains and landslides also impacted South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Climatologists and representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emphasized the direct link between these phenomena and global warming, noting that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, resulting in significantly more intense rainfall.