Asia extreme weather: Ninety dead in Indonesia floods as cyclone displaces thousands in Sri Lanka

Exceptionally rare for cyclones to happen in Indonesia, says researcherpublished at 05:34 GMT

05:34 GMT

Arie Firdaus
BBC Indonesian

The widespread flooding and landslides hitting Indonesia over the past few days have been triggered by Cyclone Senyar.

It is exceptionally rare for cyclones to happen in Indonesia, as they almost never form near the equator, says Erma Yulihastin, a researcher at the country’s National Research and Innovation Agency’s Climate and Atmospheric Research Center (BRIN).

On 23 November, rainfall on Sumatra’s west coast reached 160 mm (6.2in) per day – then, on 24 November, rose to 226 mm per day. These numbers far exceed Indonesia’s average monthly rainfall of around 150 mm.

“If rainfall exceeds 100 mm in a day, it is already considered extreme – let alone reaching 200 mm,” says Erma.

In Central Tapanuli and Sibolga – two areas on North Sumatra’s west coast – rainfall over four days reached as high as 800 mm.