Dozens of families were left isolated after flash floods cut roads in El Loa Province in the region of Antofagasta, northern Chile, on 04 February 2023.
The local government reported heavy rain and flooding in several parts of the province. Around 50 families were left isolated in the town of Lasana after damaging floods washed away parts of the road network. Areas of the city of Calama were also affected and the important road connecting Calama to San Pedro de Atacama was blocked.
Videos shared on Social Media showed homes and streets inundated and water cascading down mountainsides.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in Fiji reported flooding in areas of the country's Northern Division after heavy rain from 03 February 2023.
Roads were swamped and streets and buildings were inundated in Savusavu and Labasa on 03 February 2023. Evacuation centres were opened and as of 04 February, were accommodating 350 people from 116 households, according to NDMO. Fiji Roads Authority said several roads were flooded and impassable.
Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported one person died after trying to cross a flooded river at the Nayalayala settlement in Taveuni.
Other areas of the country have also seen heavy rainfall in recent days. According to figures from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 24 hours to 03 February, 74 mm of rain fell on the island of Rotuma and 76 mm fell on Lakeba Island. The village of Yasawa-i-Rara recorded 81 mm of rain during the same period. Nausori recorded 69 mm of rain in 24 hours to 05 February.
More heavy rain has caused havoc on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Disaster authorities report at least 2 people have lost their lives, one person is missing and thousands have been affected after floods in South Sulawesi Province. Flooding has also affected areas of Borneo Island in recent days.
Sulawesi Island
Hours of heavy rain late on 01 February 2023 triggered flooding in the city of Parepare. Flooding affected the districts of Ujung, Bacukiki, West Bacukiki and Soreng. Disaster authorities in the city reported the overflow of the Jawi-Jawi river in the Tegal area of the city in Ujung District. Flood waters in areas close to the river were around 1 metre deep.
Hawaii is famous for its sunny and warm beaches, but Mother Nature still has something else in mind Monday as the islands continue to get hit with heavy rain and high winds to kick off the week.
Flood Watches remain in effect for most of the islands into Monday evening as a strong area of low pressure soaks the state from east to west, dropping several inches of rain on some of the islands, or in a few cases, more than 2 feet of rain.
Rainfall totals widely vary depending on terrain and whether it faces the wind, but on Maui and Molokai, some storm totals have reached 17 to 25 inches on the windward side of the mountains. Kahului and Wailuku reported 3 to 6 inches over the past 72 hours.
Several districts of Mahajanga, in the northwest of Madagascar, have flooded as well as the roads that connect them to the capital, Antananarivo.
Cyclone Cheneso continues to hit the island with more than 15,000 people affected to date.
"I left my house because it was destroyed by the strong winds of the cyclone. The house tilted, so I ran away. My house was totally destroyed," said flood victim Bonne Fehy.
Tropical storm in Madagascar: At least 25 dead, roads flooded and crops destroyed
Two dozen Madagascans have died and tens of thousands been left homeless since a severe tropical storm made landfall last week and swirled for days off the island's western coast, official records showed Sunday.
Cyclone Cheneso smashed into northeastern Madagascar 10 days ago, bringing heavy winds and triggering downpours that have caused extensive flooding.
Over the week it has tracked south-eastwards, extending damage to houses, schools and cutting off several national roads.
Twenty-five people are now known to have died and 21 others are still missing, according to an update from Madagascar's risk management office.
At least 83,181 people have been affected, with nearly 38,000 displaced from their homes.
Cheneso -- which temporarily intensified to a tropical cyclone in recent days with winds of 118-166 kilometres per hour (73-103 miles per hour) -- "has started to lose its purely tropical characteristic," according to the southwest Indian ocean Regional Specialist Meteorological Centre based in the French overseas island of La Reunion
Storm Cheneso made landfall on January 19, packing winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour.
It is the first tropical storm of the current cyclone season in southern Africa -- which typically runs from November to April -- to hit the cyclone-prone large Indian ocean island.
Wide areas of Southern and Central Provinces in Zambia are underwater after long-term rainfall caused rivers to overflow. Disaster authorities in Zambia have described it as a "catastrophic situation".
On 27 January 2023, the country's Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) conducted an aerial survey of affected communities in Bwengwa, Namwala, Monze in Southern Province, and Mumbwa district in Central Province. DDMU reported widespread damage to homes, farmland and livestock. Many communities are isolated leaving them without access to healthcare and education. Furthermore, sanitation facilities have been completely submerged, exposing the population to a high risk of waterborne diseases, DDMU said.
DDMU added that affected communities require an emergency intervention in particular delivery of both food and non-food relief items. The Government has assured that a multi-sectorial response will ensure recovery, rehabilitation and restoration.
One people died after floods 80 to 300 cm high destroyed dozens of homes in Indonesia's North Sulawesi on Friday.
"Heavy rains in several areas of Manado City have caused the Tondano River to overflow, and flooding cannot be avoided," said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
At least five sub-districts have been flooded, and 33 houses in six sub-districts have experienced landslides, as the authorities continue to assess the situation on the ground.
Indonesia - 5 Killed in North Sulawesi Floods and Landslides
At least five people died after flash floods swept through areas of Manado City in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on 27 January 2023.
Disaster authorities in the country reported heavy rain and the overflow of the Tondano watershed inundated around 400 homes. Flood waters were up to 3 metres deep in some areas. A total of 1,021 people were displaced in the districts of Tikala, Paal 2, Tuminting, Singkil and Wanang. One person died in the floods and a bridge was severely damaged.
Furthermore heavy rain in the area caused multiple landslides in the area, severely damaging over 50 houses and public buildings. Disaster authorities reported 4 people lost their lives as a result.
The Manado City Government has declared an emergency status.
The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika Indonesia - BMKG) reported Sam Ratulangi International Airport, located 13 km northeast of Manado recorded 238 mm of rain in 24 hours to 27 January and 216.7 mm in the following 24 hour period.
Six people died after heavy rain triggered floods and landslides in Manado City on 16 January 2021.
Two people died and at least 155 households were affected by floods and landslides in the city in March 2022.
A state of emergency has been declared in Auckland, New Zealand after record rain caused widespread flooding on 27 January 2023.
"It only took a half-day to beat the previous daily rainfall record," the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said.
Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins, said in a statement, "I'm pleased an emergency declaration has been made due to flooding in Auckland tonight. All relevant govt agencies are working flat out to help in an extraordinary set of circumstances. The emergency response is underway and the Government is ready to assist as needed."
Major roads have been blocked by flooding, landslips or stranded vehicles, causing severe traffic disruption across the Auckland Region. Auckland Airport's international terminal has been closed due to flooding.
Record floods in New Zealand claim at least four lives
Australian disaster relief experts will travel to New Zealand in the coming days after record floods swamped homes, inundated Auckland Airport, and claimed at least four lives.
Heavy showers have triggered a flash flood warning for Maui County.
The warning has been extended until 1 a.m. Saturday.
Emergency management officials said South Kihei Road has been closed from North Kihei Road to Waipulani Road until Saturday. Piilani Highway was also closed near Nuu. Several stream gauges along the windward side of Haleakala also indicated rapid rises in water levels.
Radar showed the heaviest showers — with rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour — in the Hana area and slopes of Haleakala.
The number of flood victims seeking shelter in relief centres in Johor state rose to 1,093 in the late afternoon on Tuesday, as several districts were inundated with rising river waters amid the heavy rain. Johor's State Disaster Management Committee had earlier said some 422 victims were forced to move to relief centres.
Most of the victims were from the northern district of Segamat, with 975 people from 273 families placed at eight relief centres, officials said.
Other districts hit by the flood were in Kluang in central Johor and Kota Tinggi in the east of the Malaysian state. Many of the victims were villagers who live close to rivers that have overflowed their banks after days of non-stop rains.
Malaysia - Floods in Johor and Pahang After 430mm of Rain in 24 Hours
Over 4,000 people have been displaced by flooding in the states of Johor and Pahang in Malaysia. Flooding has also affected parts of Sabah State on the island of Borneo.
Flooding began on 24 January 2023 where initially 400 people were evacuated from homes in areas of Kluang, Kota Tinggi and Segamat districts.
According to figures from Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage, as much as 344 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 24 January in Segamat and 432 mm during the same period in Mersing. Rivers are above the danger mark in at least 5 locations.
Johor State firefighters rescued 3 people from a vehicle trapped in flood waters in Labis, Johor on 24 January.
As of 25 January, the National Disaster Management Agency reported a total of 4,382 people now displaced by flooding in Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Muar and Segamat. Military teams were deployed to aid flood victims in Segamat.
In the neighbouring state of Pahang, around 7 people were displaced after floods in Rompin district. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage reported the Keratoan river was above the danger mark near Bahau Keratong in Rompin district. As of 25 January, the river stood at 23.36 metres where the danger level is 23 metres. The river is forecast to rise further over the coming days.
Sabah State
Meanwhile, flooding has also affected Sabah state in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The National Disaster Management Agency said a total of 607 people have been displaced, as of 25 January, from homes in the districts of Kudat and Pitas. As much as 225 mm of rain fell in a few hours in Beluran on 25 January.
Local disaster agencies also reported floods and evacuations in Kota Marudu District in Kudat Division.
Comment: Update January 30
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