Rare Triple Cyclone Event Batters Southeast Asia; Satellite Images Reveal Widespread Flooding Across Five Countries

A rare and powerful convergence of three tropical weather systems has unleashed widespread destruction across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam over the past week.
Satellite images captured by Planet Labs show large-scale flooding, submerged villages, crop damage, and landslides across multiple regions.

Three Cyclones Active at the Same Time

1. Cyclone Ditwah
   • Originated near Sri Lanka and brought severe flooding and landslides.
   • Weakened while approaching India’s eastern coast.
   • Tamil Nadu experienced only marginal impact.
   • India deployed relief teams to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
2. Cyclone Senyar
   • Formed over Indonesian waters and moved north toward Malaysia.
   • Generated winds up to 35 knots.
   • Classified as extremely rare, being the first cyclone in the Strait of Malacca in 135 years, according to IMD Chief Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
3. Tropical Storm Koto
   • Triggered flash floods in the Philippines.
   • Later moved toward Vietnam, with heavy rains affecting coastal provinces.

Sri Lanka: Severe Impact and High Death Toll

Satellite imagery of Kaduwela and Colombo shows homes and agricultural fields completely submerged.

• 366 deaths reported
• 367 people missing across 25 districts
• Over 180,000 people displaced
• More than 1,000 relief camps operating

Low-lying areas in Colombo remain flooded despite the rains easing.

Indonesia: Entire Towns Submerged

Images from Padang (West Sumatra) and Aceh Utara show:

• Streets and neighbourhoods under water
• Large patches of cropland destroyed
• Rivers overflowing into residential areas

Thailand: Worst Flooding in a Decade

• 170 deaths reported, according to the Thai Ministry of Public Health
• Hat Yai recorded more than a month’s rainfall in a single day
• Satellite images show Songkhla Lake expanding by more than 10 km

Why This Triple Cyclone Event Is Unusual

Experts say the simultaneous formation of these systems was triggered by:

• Consecutive low-pressure areas
• An active Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
• Equatorial atmospheric waves (Kelvin waves)
• Unusual ocean temperature patterns
• A weakening La Niña and a transitioning Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

Cyclone Senyar’s formation near the equator is especially rare because rotational forces near the equator are typically too weak to create cyclones.

A Warning from Climate Scientists

Meteorologists note that this rare clustering of storms may reflect shifting climate patterns in the region, with extreme rainfall becoming more frequent and unpredictable.