AI forecasts: Can Southeast Asia rise above the Mekong floods?
As the Mekong River flows through Southeast Asia, it shapes the region’s life, culture, and landscape. But in 2024, the river’s familiar presence has taken a more daunting turn. Torrential rains fueled by Typhoon Yagi, combined with a relentless monsoon season, have unleashed severe flooding across Southeast Asia, forcing communities to grapple with an unpredictable, intensifying flood crisis.
Talking about floods, are nothing new to the Mekong Basin. But last year, following half a decade of drought, the flood left villages in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and northern Laos submerged, with vast farmlands and homes swept away.
The story of the 2024 flood season underscores a sobering reality: we may not be able to eliminate floods, but we can find innovative ways to reduce their devastating impact.
Anoulak Kittikhoun, the CEO of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat
