标签： Asia

Southeast Asia continues to face the devastating aftermath of relentless heavy rains, with Vietnam and Thailand bearing the brunt of widespread flooding and landslides. As of Monday, the death toll in Vietnam has climbed to 91, with 11 individuals still missing. The torrential rains, which began a week ago, have caused severe flooding and triggered landslides across an 800-kilometer stretch from Quang Tri to Lam Dong provinces, including the highlands. Dak Lak province, the hardest-hit area, recorded 63 fatalities, primarily due to drowning. Other affected provinces include Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Danang, Hue, and Quang Tri. Helicopters have been deployed to deliver food and aid supplies and assist in evacuations, as many roads remain impassable. In Thailand, five fatalities and four injuries have been reported across six southern provinces, with nearly 2 million people affected by flash flooding. The city of Hat Yai in Songkhla province experienced its highest 24-hour rainfall in 300 years, complicating evacuation efforts. Malaysia is also grappling with severe flooding, with over 12,500 people evacuated across nine states, particularly in the northeastern state of Kelantan. The persistent rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, has caused extensive damage, with Vietnam estimating economic losses of around $500 million in this round of floods. The International Organization for Migration announced that South Korea would contribute $1 million to aid Vietnam in assisting displaced communities. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly destructive and frequent.

In a brazen assault on Monday, two suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of Pakistan’s Federal Constabulary in Peshawar, resulting in the deaths of three security personnel and injuries to at least 12 others. According to police reports shared with BBC Urdu, the attackers were heavily armed as they stormed the highly fortified complex in the northwestern city. The incident occurred at approximately 08:10 local time (03:10 GMT), with witnesses recounting hearing two deafening explosions. Despite the attackers’ efforts, they were neutralized at the gate before gaining access to the main building. Pakistani authorities have labeled the attack as a ‘foiled terrorist plot,’ emphasizing that the assailants were intercepted in time. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, urging swift identification and prosecution of those responsible. The Federal Constabulary, tasked with addressing high-threat scenarios such as tribal conflicts and organized crime, operates in a region historically plagued by militant violence. Peshawar, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, has frequently been a hotspot for such attacks. While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, has a history of orchestrating similar assaults in the area. Rescue teams and law enforcement remain on-site as investigations continue.

In a tragic incident on Monday morning, two suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of a security force in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least three officers and left five others injured, according to police and rescue officials. Peshawar Police Chief Saeed Ahmad detailed that one assailant detonated explosives at the main gate of the Federal Constabulary’s provincial headquarters, while the second bomber was neutralized by security personnel near the parking area. Ahmad emphasized that a swift response by the forces prevented a potentially larger catastrophe, as a significant number of officers were gathered on the open ground for morning parade drills. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, though the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been implicated in similar past incidents. This latest assault follows a suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad less than two weeks ago, which claimed 12 lives. The surge in militant activities has exacerbated tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of allowing cross-border attacks. Despite Afghanistan’s denial, bilateral relations remain strained, particularly after recent drone strikes and subsequent ceasefire brokered by Qatar. Pakistan has intensified its operations against the TTP, targeting insurgents near the Afghan border.