The Climate Question What made the floods in South East Asia so deadly?
Dec 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mariko Oi, a presenter for BBC World Service's Asia Pacific, leads the conversation on the recent deadly floods in Southeast Asia. The guest experts, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar, delve into how climate change has intensified storms and flooding, linking warmer oceans to heavier rainfall. They highlight the unique vulnerabilities of urban areas and explore innovative solutions like mangrove restoration and urban planning to mitigate future disasters. The conversation also touches on the economic challenges of adaptation.
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Climate Change Amplified The Downpours
- Climate change made recent Southeast Asian rains more intense, amplifying flooding risks across the region.
- Other drivers like urbanisation, deforestation and cyclical patterns (La Niña, Indian Ocean Dipole) also combined to worsen impacts.
Warmer Oceans And Air Supercharge Storms
- Warmer oceans fuel stronger cyclones and a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour, producing heavier rainfall.
- Those two physical effects together increase storm intensity and potential for extreme downpours.
Coastal Cities Concentrate Risk
- Many major Asian cities sit on coasts and river deltas, placing dense populations directly in harm's way from storm surge and floods.
- The IPCC flags Asia as the most exposed region to sea-level related risks because of this concentration of people in low-lying areas.