Death Toll From Southeast Asia Floods Reaches 600

Does this represent evidence of climate change, or is it simply a reflection of natural weather variability?

Published 22 hours ago

Death Toll From Southeast Asia Floods Reaches 600

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Above: An aerial view shows a home surrounded by flood waters in Kangar in northern Malaysia's Perlis state on Nov. 28, 2025. Image credit: Mohd RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

Climate change and environmental destruction, not corruption, drive Southeast Asia's deadly flooding crisis that has killed hundreds across Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Tropical Cyclone Senyar's unprecedented formation over the Malacca Strait demonstrates how warming oceans intensify monsoons and concentrate rainfall into catastrophic events. Unchecked deforestation, wetland destruction and sand mining have destabilized landscapes, turning natural weather patterns into compound disasters that overwhelm even well-prepared nations.

Geopolitical Monitor The Jakarta Post

Climate-skeptic narrative

These floods, while tragic, reflect natural weather variability, not anthropogenic climate change. Historical records show comparable deluges in the region, with rainfall patterns driven by monsoon cycles and low-pressure systems — events that predate modern emissions. Blaming CO2 diverts from real issues: inadequate drainage systems, unchecked urbanization on floodplains, and corrupt allocation of disaster funds that prioritize elite contracts over resilient infrastructure. Addressing these would save lives without futile global restrictions.

Factcheck

Cynical narrative

Systemic corruption in Philippine flood control projects has stolen billions from the public, enriching politicians and contractors while leaving communities defenseless against disasters. The unholy alliance of lawmakers, bureaucrats, auditors and construction firms operates with brazen impunity, manipulating budgets and delivering ghost projects instead of protection. This criminal enterprise has drained billion over the years, with investigations revealing identical costs for different locations while thousands of projects remain substandard or non-existent.

Asia Media Centre NZ Eurasia Review