Mining, plantations, and fires have caused the clearance of large tracts of lush Indonesian rainforest over recent decades. More than 240,000 hectares of primary forest were lost in 2024.
The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has basically completed the Quang Trung Campaign launched by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to swiftly rebuild and repair homes for people affected by natural disasters, helping hundreds of families stabilise their lives.
Under the campaign, the force was tasked with building 27 of the 41 houses requiring reconstruction across the province, accounting for nearly 66% of the total. All 27 houses were completed, and by January 9, they had been fully handed over for use, earlier than the January 15 deadline.
Rainfall recorded at the Teluk Bayur Maritime Meteorological Station in Padang city on January 2 exceeded 159 mm, a level classified as extreme. Meanwhile, the Minangkabau Meteorological Station and the West Sumatra Climatology Station, both located in Padang Pariaman district, also recorded very heavy rainfall, approaching the extreme threshold of 150 mm in a single day.
The Indonesian government through the Forest and Mining Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH) has found indications of a number of corporate and individual entities that contribute to the occurrence of floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Indonesia will revoke 22 forestry permits across the country after deadly floods and landslides devastated parts of the northwestern island of Sumatra.
As disaster-related losses continue to rise, authorities in the affected provinces have decided to extend the state of emergency to ensure resources and legal mechanisms for response efforts. West Sumatra extended it to December 22, North Sumatra to December 24, and Aceh to December 25.
The floods and landslides that struck three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island have caused damage to about 1,200 public facilities, as well as 219 health facilities, 581 educational establishments, 434 places for worship, 290 office buildings and 145 bridges.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 9 called for rapid construction and repair of homes affected by recent storms and floods, stressing that any delays must be addressed.
The central bank has implemented timely and dedicated measures to support recovery, including restructuring loan repayment terms for affected borrowers, reducing lending rates by 0.5–2% in 3–6 months for around 24,000 customers with loans totalling 14 trillion VND.
Data from the Khanh Hoal People’s Committee showed that floods from November 16-22 caused severe human and property losses in the province. A total of 89 homes were destroyed, and 294 were seriously damaged, significantly affecting residents’ daily lives.
Localities were asked to clearly identify the number of houses to be rebuilt and repaired, expected timelines, and responsibility assignments for members of the provincial-level Party Committees and People’s Committees.
On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung also extended condolences to his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
The death toll has surpassed 1,140, with many still missing, reported the Thai English-language daily online newspaper The Nation.
Severe floods and landslides have battered Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in recent days, causing widespread destruction, mass evacuations and a rising death toll across the region.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has issued an updated assessment of Typhoon Koto, Vietnam’s 15th storm this year.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed that the death toll from the severe floods in the South of Thailand has risen to 33, mostly due to flash floods, electrocution and drowning.
Notably, the directive expands the list of supported localities to include four additional provinces – Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Lam Dong – alongside central ones that had already suffered significant damage. This expansion considerably broadens the range of beneficiaries, given the widespread losses caused by the recent major storms.
Themed “United as One – Toward Central Vietnam”, the the “Great National Unity – Vietnamese Cultural Heritage" Week 2025 provides a chance to honour the rich cultural identity of 54 ethnic groups; and reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and inspire aspirations for the future.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.