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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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.
Sinking Cities Multiply Sea-Level Threats
- Subsidence (sinking cities) plus slightly faster regional sea-level rise produces a 'double whammy' that magnifies flood impacts.
- Causes include groundwater extraction and heavy urban development that accelerate sinking beneath skyscrapers.
Regional Sea-Level Rise Is Uneven
- Sea-level rise in parts of Asia runs a bit faster than the global average and thermal expansion is a major driver.
- Local factors like winds, gravity and ocean warming pockets make sea-level change uneven across regions.