A warming planet is making floods, wildfires, and droughts more violent and more frequent — to the point where damage now hits $300–370 billion a year. We can't stop the climate, but we can defend the "places" we live in — with pumps, flood walls, buried power lines, and wetlands. This is the business of "making cities disaster-proof," and it grows every year — but it's a business where the money arrives in lumps, tied to government budgets, and most of the real players are big diversified companies, not pure-plays.
FTI warns industry to brace for dual water risks, urges dry-season planning
The Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI, has warned the industrial sector to manage two water risks at once: coping with heavy rain and localized flooding in the short term, and ensuring sufficient raw water for the dry season. Prida Watcharienthaisakul, FTI vice chairman and chairman of the Water, Environment and Climate Change Institute, said heavy rain at certain times does not mean every area will have enough water. Data from the Thai Water Resources Information Institute as of September 18, 2026, indicates that from September 18 to 20, 2026, many areas must be on alert for flash floods, forest runoff and waterlogging. Areas at risk from 24-hour accumulated rainfall include Phitsanulok, Chanthaburi, Trat, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Phrae, Krabi, Chumphon, Trang, Phang Nga, Ranong and Surat Thani. Nationwide accumulated rainfall from January 1 to September 13, 2026, stood at 1,032.6 millimeters, with the eastern South recording rainfall 28 percent below normal, the Central region 18 percent below and the East 13 percent below. Data from the Royal Irrigation Department as of September 18, 2026, shows that 496 large and medium-sized reservoirs held a combined 55,015 million cubic meters, or 72 percent of capacity, with 31,041 million cubic meters of usable water, or 59 percent, which is 4,210 million cubic meters lower than the same period in 2025. The FTI recommends that businesses prepare water management plans at at least three levels: normal conditions, alert conditions and water-scarcity conditions, while accelerating efforts to cut water loss and reuse water. Meanwhile, the FTI's Water, Environment and Climate Change Institute is developing a Water Information & Early Warning system to produce an Industrial Water Risk Map and expand its Water War Room network in line with the FTI's 5I policy, specifically I4 Industrial Infrastructure Reform and I5 Inclusive Sustainability.
CenterPoint Energy Replaces US$2.40 Billion Credit Facility With US$2.20 Billion Five-Year Revolver
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. replaced its prior US$2.40 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a new five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility of US$2.20 billion in September 2026. The new facility includes swingline loan and standby letter of credit subfacilities, extendable maturities, and a covenant capping the company's debt-to-capitalization ratio at 67.5%. It also carries a built-in covenant adjustment that temporarily allows higher leverage if large, securitizable natural-disaster restoration costs arise in its service territory. The refreshed facility modestly tightens leverage capacity while adding disaster-related flexibility, and the company also completed Phase Two of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative. CenterPoint Energy's narrative projects $11.4 billion in revenue and $1.6 billion in earnings by 2029, with a $46.12 fair value estimate implying 20% upside.
Indonesia Tightens Penalties for Forest Burning, Weighs 'Ecological Terrorism' Law
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered relevant agencies to tighten legal enforcement and penalties against those using slash-and-burn methods to clear land, after the country faced weeks of severe forest fires that produced haze affecting neighboring countries. At a cabinet meeting, Prabowo said the government would not be lenient toward individuals or companies responsible for the fires, and instructed the Minister of the Presidential Secretariat and the Minister of Law to consider ways to increase legal penalties, and proposed that the government discuss with the House of Representatives to tighten the law, possibly classifying such burning as "ecological terrorism" given the severity of the problem. He also ordered local governments to revoke exemptions that allow smallholder farmers to use fire to clear small plots, and directed police to pursue criminal cases against companies that violate fire prevention measures. Reports say the Indonesian government has mobilized more than 50 aircraft to drop water and conduct cloud seeding to control the fires, while Japan sent three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to join the water-dropping mission on Wednesday, September 16. This fire season is the most severe in 11 years, amid weather from a "super El Niño" phenomenon that has left forests and agricultural land severely dry, with Borneo and Sumatra the worst-affected areas. The haze has increased respiratory illness cases and pushed air quality in Singapore and Malaysia to levels harmful to health. Government data show that from January to July this year, fires burned 202,000 hectares, or nearly 500,000 acres, while YKAN, an environmental group, estimates that fires caused an additional roughly 600,000 hectares, or 1.4 million acres, of damage in August. Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned that the fires could persist into early November, as the rainy season is likely to arrive later than previously expected.
Capgemini Study Finds 68% of Executives Prioritize Climate Adaptation as Net Zero Gaps Widen
A new Capgemini Research Institute report finds that 68% of executives now say their organization actively prioritizes climate adaptation, up from 56% in 2025, yet only 15% have fully quantified the financial impact of climate-related disruptions. The fifth edition of A World in Balance: The resilience reset, based on a survey of 2,100 executives at 701 organizations with more than $1 billion in annual revenue across 13 countries, also shows the share of organizations falling behind on net zero goals rising to 11% in 2026 from 1% in 2025, with 29% saying they have postponed their net zero objectives, compared with just 8% last year. Nearly nine in 10 organizations report climate-related supply-chain disruptions, and more than seven in 10 executives say securing access to critical resources such as energy, water and materials now influences sustainability decisions more than emissions-reduction targets. Sustainability spending reached 1.04% of revenue last year, above the 0.8% initially allocated, and 83% of organizations plan to increase climate adaptation spending over the next 12 to 18 months. Cyril Garcia, Global head of Sustainability services and Corporate Responsibility at Capgemini, said climate disruptions have become the new normal and that leaders can no longer defer climate action.
Cabinet approves 95 billion baht budget to tackle flooding in the lower Chao Phraya basin across 8 provinces
The Cabinet has resolved to approve the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, through the Royal Irrigation Department, to carry out the Lower East Chao Phraya Irrigation System Improvement Project, with a total budget framework of 95 billion baht over a six-year implementation period from fiscal year 2027 to 2032, in order to enhance the efficiency of floodwater management and sustainably resolve recurring flood problems in the Chao Phraya basin. The total budget framework of 95 billion baht consists of 76.50729 billion baht in loans, accounting for 80.53%, and 18.49271 billion baht from the annual expenditure budget, accounting for 19.47%. Implementation is divided into two phases. Phase 1, with a budget of 40.507 billion baht, will expedite the construction and dredging of north-to-south canals to drain water directly into the Gulf of Thailand as a first priority, such as Khlong Rapeepat, Khlong Rapeepat South Branch, Khlong 13, Khlong Nakhon Nueang Khet, Khlong Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchit, Khlong Samrong, and Khlong Dan, which are areas that are ready and free of encroachment problems. Phase 2, with a budget of 54.493 billion baht, will carry out construction of the remaining sections in sequence. The project will cover an irrigation canal network of 22 main canals with a total length of approximately 460 kilometres and 23 water control structures across 8 provinces, namely Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, and Bangkok. It will increase the capacity to receive water into Khlong Rapeepat from 210 to 400 cubic metres per second and increase drainage into the Gulf of Thailand through the coastal canal to 144 cubic metres per second. Once the project is completed, it is expected to reduce flood damage by an average of 10 billion baht per year, protect more than 258,000 rai of community and key economic areas from flooding, and increase water storage for consumption in the dry season by more than 17 million cubic metres per year.
Government launches One Map for water, combining early-warning data from 4 agencies into a single map
Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, together with Ms. Buntida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society, jointly presided over the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between four key agencies to accelerate the creation of a One Map for water on 15 September 2026 at Room Naree 2, Naree Samosorn Building, Government House. The collaboration stemmed from a field visit to handle flood situations in Nan Province, which found that early-warning data was still scattered and inconsistent among agencies, causing delays in decision-making. Under this MOU, the Thai Meteorological Department is responsible for issuing official warnings for storms and heavy rain, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency supports satellite imagery and geoinformatics data, the Hydro-Informatics Institute supports water level and volume data along with 24-48 hour advance assessments of rain watch areas, and the Big Data Institute develops analysis systems and dashboards applying artificial intelligence. All data will be gathered into the National Water Data Warehouse, and the public can now follow the situation through a centralized warning dashboard at the website www.thaiwater.net/new4all.
Today's Cabinet meeting is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, standing in for Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is on a trip to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 14 to 16 September 2026. The key agenda item to watch is the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives seeking approval for the project to upgrade the lower Chao Phraya irrigation system, lower eastern side, with a budget of about 95 billion baht, which is planned to use loans from the Asian Development Bank, or ADB, together with the national budget. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior is preparing to seek approval for a total framework of 15,000 million baht to buy natural disaster insurance under the national disaster insurance programme, with three types of policies covering floods, windstorms and earthquakes, covering 30 million households, with a coverage period of one year from 1 October 2026 to 1 October 2027. The Ministry of Finance is proposing borrowing from the ADB to fund investment expenditure projects for economic and social development, one of the key projects being the development of the public health service system of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health. The Ministry of Transport is proposing to cancel the construction of the new Ministry of Transport office building, which was tied to the budget for 2026 to 2028, effectively delaying the construction plan. Also to be watched is the proposed appointment and transfer of senior officials at several ministries to fill positions left vacant by retirements on 30 September this year.
Report warns Himalayas near tipping point as glaciers melt faster, threatening water supply for hundreds of millions
A new report published this month by Systemic, a sustainability consultancy, together with three mountain development and environmental organizations, warns that the Himalayas are approaching a tipping point after glaciers melted faster than in previous decades, and that the region is expected to reach peak water around the middle of this century. The study says the retreat of glaciers is creating unstable and dangerous glacial lakes, with rock and ice dams perched above valleys where millions of people live. Currently only 21 glaciers have been measured in the field out of roughly 40,000 in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region, which spans eight countries from Afghanistan to Myanmar. In India, nearly 200 glacial lakes have been identified as high-risk, with 56 of them at very high risk. The report says the Himalayan region plays a vital role in India's economy, accounting for more than 20% of the country's GDP, and although it makes up about 18% of India's land area, it accounts for roughly 35% of the country's natural disasters. The study follows the collapse of a glacier on the Nepal-Tibet border in late August, which triggered a chain of landslides and flash floods down valleys, with at least 1,300 confirmed deaths and more than 5,300 people missing in Nepal and China's Tibet region.
Frequent Natural Disasters Deepen Construction Labor Shortage, AI to Bolster Recovery Capacity
With natural disasters such as torrential rains and earthquakes occurring one after another, the challenge is whether social infrastructure and housing can be restored quickly after a disaster. The Sanae Takaichi administration has listed disaster prevention and national resilience as one of 17 strategic investment areas, and expectations are growing in both the public and private sectors for the use of artificial intelligence and information and communications technology. According to materials compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in March, the number of licensed construction contractors stood at 484,000 at the end of fiscal 2024, down about 20 percent from the peak at the end of fiscal 1999, while the number of workers in the construction industry in 2024 was about 4.77 million, down roughly 30 percent from the peak in 1997. The share of construction workers aged 55 and older is high at 36.7 percent, while those aged 15 to 29 account for only 11.7 percent. According to Teikoku Databank, construction industry bankruptcies in 2025 rose 6.9 percent from the previous year to 2,021 cases, increasing for a fourth consecutive year and marking the highest level in the past decade. A disaster management agency that will serve as the command center during disasters is scheduled to be established during 2026, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and local governments are advancing the use of satellite data and drone imagery to assess damage, while the introduction of remote-controlled construction machinery and automated construction is also progressing.
Nepal expects to need 4.74 billion dollars to rebuild after flash floods and landslides
The Office of the Prime Minister of Nepal said on Thursday, September 10, that Nepal expects to need 4.74 billion US dollars to rebuild and restore the northern part of the country after major flash floods and landslides on August 26. The figure comes from a rapid damage and needs assessment report, or RDNA, prepared by a joint technical task force of the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority of Nepal, or NDRRMA. NDRRMA said the disaster killed 1,377 people and left 5,130 missing as of 11:00 a.m. local time on Thursday. The report said infrastructure was the hardest-hit sector, requiring 3.1 billion US dollars, or about 75% of total recovery needs. In the energy sector, which was also severely damaged, the flash floods and landslides affected 13 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 759 megawatts and 5 solar power plants with a combined capacity of 24 megawatts. Nepal will need 2.56 billion US dollars to restore the energy system and power grid. Rebuilding transport infrastructure will require 481 million US dollars. The disaster also caused heavy damage to homes and social infrastructure in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts.
C3S reports August 2026 was the hottest on record, with global temperature reaching 16.96 degrees
The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, or C3S, reported that August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in history, with the global average surface air temperature reaching 16.96 degrees Celsius, slightly above the previous record of about 16.95 degrees Celsius set in July 2023, and 0.85 degrees Celsius above the August average for the 1991-2020 period. It was also about 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the 1850-1900 period. The month was also the first since November 2025 that the global monthly average temperature rose more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Meanwhile, Western Europe also experienced its hottest summer on record, as a heatwave that began unusually early and intensely in May pushed the June-August average temperature above the previous record set in 2003. The global average sea surface temperature outside the polar regions, between latitudes 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north, reached 21.07 degrees Celsius in August, the highest level ever recorded for that month, and remained unusually high across much of the tropical Pacific Ocean, where the El Nino phenomenon is intensifying and could become one of the strongest on record in the coming months. Samantha Burgess, head of climate strategy at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said the figures reflect that climate change is driving extreme weather in both the atmosphere and the oceans, with growing impacts on communities, economies and ecosystems worldwide.
Indonesia closes 8 airports after Anak Krakatoa volcano erupts
Indonesia had to temporarily close 8 airports on Sunday after the Anak Krakatoa volcano erupted violently, causing more than 1,500 flights to be suspended and affecting over 170,000 passengers. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the main airport serving Jakarta, announced it would suspend flights until 11:59 p.m. Sunday local time due to volcanic ash in the area, with 964 flights affected at this airport alone. Major airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Lion Air Group all canceled flights to and from Jakarta. Anak Krakatoa, located between Java and Sumatra islands, began erupting on Friday night, spewing ash up to 6,000 meters toward Java and 15,000 meters toward Sumatra and parts of Banten province. Authorities have ordered schools in Lampung province and Jakarta to conduct online learning starting today and banned fishing boats from leaving shore. Ferry services across the Sunda Strait remain operational but must stay at least 3 kilometers away from the volcano's crater. Additionally, Mount Semeru in East Java province erupted, sending ash 1 kilometer high on the same day. Both volcanoes remain on alert level, along with Mount Merapi, Lewotobi Laki-Laki, and Sinabung. However, authorities confirmed there is no risk of a tsunami from this eruption.
MLIT introduces preemptive traffic restrictions at six underpasses
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on the 4th that it will introduce preemptive traffic restrictions at six national highway underpasses nationwide from the same day as a measure against flooding. This follows the death of a person in an underpass in Chiba City in August due to record heavy rain. The restrictions will close the underpasses preventively when a heavy rain warning at alert level 4 is issued. The affected locations are National Route 44 in Kushiro City, Hokkaido; National Route 7 in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture; National Route 112 in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture; National Route 7 in Niigata City; National Route 9 in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture; and National Route 56 in Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture. These sites were selected because they have flooded in the past and are at high risk. At the underpass in Chiba City where the fatality occurred, preemptive restrictions were introduced at the end of August for the first time on a nationally managed highway, and the measure has now been expanded. The ministry will also consider measures to prevent vehicle entry, such as installing barriers.
Nepal has estimated the damage from last week's severe floods at at least 387.5 billion Nepali rupees, or about $2.56 billion, covering property, homes, and infrastructure. The disaster occurred on August 26 after a glacial lake outburst sent a torrent of water and mud down the Trishuli River, killing more than 1,250 people and leaving over 4,200 missing. Dharma Raj Upreti, head of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said that in the first four months of initial recovery, an estimated budget of about $52.6 million will be needed for building roads and temporary shelters, providing drinking water, and restoring electricity. Nepal needs to build about 20,000 new homes, of which at least 7,500 were completely destroyed. The damage figure is still a preliminary estimate and may be revised after detailed surveys.
Singapore Warns of Poor Air Quality as Indonesian Forest Fires Intensify
Singapore is facing haze from forest fires in Indonesia, pushing air quality into the "unhealthy" range today, as dry weather intensifies the regional fire situation. IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, ranks Singapore as the 8th most polluted major city in the world, while Kuching in Malaysia's Borneo ranks first. Singapore's National Environment Agency said on Thursday that fire-prone areas continue to experience prolonged dry weather, raising the risk of more severe transboundary haze. It advised the public to reduce prolonged outdoor activities or strenuous exertion. Meanwhile, several areas in the region are already feeling the impact of worsening air quality, with Malaysia's Sarawak state recording "hazardous" pollution levels. Indonesian authorities have warned residents in Kalimantan, an area with numerous hotspots, to be vigilant as conditions may worsen. Reports indicate that forest fires and haze are a recurring annual problem, partly caused by burning or clearing land for agriculture and commercial land use. This year, an El Niño expected to peak between September and October could prolong the fires and haze, increasing health impacts across the region. Indonesian media, citing the forestry minister, reported that the number of hotspots on Indonesia's part of Borneo has risen again after a slight decline, reflecting the difficulty authorities face in controlling the fires. The government has deployed at least 6,000 personnel to the field, along with water-bombing aircraft and cloud-seeding operations to fight the blazes.
UN Warns of Strongest El Niño in 70 Years, ASEAN Faces Drought and Wildfire Risk
The United Nations has warned that the world is entering a danger zone of extreme weather, as the current El Niño could be the strongest in over 70 years and may last until at least February 2027. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific have risen rapidly and could be nearly 4 degrees Celsius above average, making this El Niño the strongest since 1950. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world is facing an unprecedented situation. Expected impacts include below-normal rainfall in Southeast Asia, Central America, and northern South America, increasing the risk of drought and wildfires. Indonesia is racing to control wildfires that have already burned over 107,000 hectares. The Panama Canal is preparing to reduce the number of ships allowed to transit by more than 10% to cope with reduced rainfall. China is preparing for up to seven typhoons making landfall this year. Many countries are stepping up preparedness measures, including the United States, which has announced sending the hospital ship USNS Comfort to the coast of Peru to provide medical support before El Niño reaches its peak intensity.
Nepal's tourism faces serious warning after Himalayan floods kill 987
Nepal's mountain tourism industry is facing a serious warning after devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border killed 987 people and left nearly 4,250 missing, authorities said Tuesday. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse on Aug. 26, has prompted Rajendra Bahadur Lama, general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, to call it a wake-up call for building a safer, climate-resilient tourism sector. Nepal estimates rebuilding costs between $4 billion and $5 billion, nearly one-tenth of its economy, and tourists have cancelled bookings ahead of the peak season from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15. Saroj Bhandari, owner of the Wander Thirst hostel in Kathmandu, expects occupancy to drop to 60% from 100% last year, with most cancellations from European tourists. The U.N. warns that millions in the Himalayan region face glacial flood risks, and the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service director Carlo Buontempo emphasizes the need for satellite monitoring and early-warning systems.
UN Warns World Risks Entering Era of Global Warming Exceeding 1.5°C
A major United Nations report states that the global average temperature is likely to rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next few years, and could reach 1.8 degrees Celsius in the best-case scenario, or 2.6 degrees Celsius if current policies remain. Currently, temperatures have already increased by 1.4 degrees Celsius. This report marks the end of the previous era and indicates that the world may not be able to avoid overshooting the threshold, so the goal must shift to bringing temperatures back below 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Debra Roberts, one of the co-authors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, stated that the level of commitment from countries will determine whether the overshoot lasts for decades or millennia. Reducing temperatures requires accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gases and removing carbon from the atmosphere, both naturally and through technology, including making net emissions negative. At the same time, communities must be helped to adapt to irreversible impacts, such as rising sea levels.
Massive floods caused by a glacial lake outburst in the Himalayas have killed over 1,000 people in Nepal and China, with about 4,000 still missing. Rescue workers are in the seventh day of searching for survivors. The death toll in Nepal has risen to 987, and in Jilong County in Tibet, 16 people have died, bringing the total past 1,000. Nepalese authorities say 3,916 people are still missing, including 583 foreigners, and at least 11,814 people have been rescued. The disaster was triggered by a glacial lake outburst last week, sending a torrent of ice, mud, and rocks that devastated communities in Nepal. Nepal's foreign minister described the event as a 'Himalayan tsunami,' and it has also damaged at least 12 hydropower projects in the Nuakot and Rasuwa districts, amid the country's already fragile economy.
Nepal races to drill tunnel for 933 workers trapped underground, death toll tops 900
Nepal's rescue teams, along with Chinese and Indian experts, on Monday (Aug 31) raced to drill through more than 10 hydropower plant tunnels to reach 933 workers trapped underground, after a glacial lake outburst flood last Wednesday (Aug 26) pushed Nepal's death toll to 903, with 4,247 missing. On the Chinese side in Tibet, 16 deaths and 546 missing have been confirmed, while the Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people affected. Nepal's army used controlled blasts and drilling rigs to open tunnel entrances, having breached two and recovered three bodies. Prime Minister Balendra Shah called it a historic disaster and mobilized nearly 21,000 personnel for relief efforts. Although Nepal has not requested overall international assistance, it still relies on experts from India and China for the tunnel mission. Rescue operations have been halted several times due to bad weather and the risk of new lakes overflowing. Meanwhile, CCTV reported that another lake has almost completely drained, but authorities remain vigilant about a 174,000-square-meter sinkhole holding 2.5 million cubic meters of water, with eight additional landslide risk points. Nepali officials worry that China has not disclosed sufficient glacial risk data, but China insists it has been continuously providing meteorological and hydrological information.
PM visits Hat Yai to follow up on flood prevention plan, to propose flood insurance to Cabinet
Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, visited the Khuan Na Water Gate (Khlong Phumiphat Damri) in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, to follow up on the flood prevention system plan for Hat Yai City and to hear a report on readiness for the 2026 flood season. The Royal Irrigation Department confirmed that the restoration of damaged structures will be completed before October 2026, covering the dredging of 7 canals, and that Canal Ror 1 will be able to drain 1,200 cubic meters per second. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government will integrate rainfall, water, and weather data to alert the public immediately, and instructed to streamline assistance and relief procedures. He also thanked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for supporting medical equipment and repairing shelters. In addition, at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, a proposal will be made to provide flood insurance to every household, without requiring proof of tenant or owner status, to expedite relief when incidents occur.
Himalayan Glacier Collapse Kills Nearly 800, Over 3,000 Missing
A glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday (Aug 26) triggered massive mudslides and floods that swept across the Nepal-China border. The death toll has now surged to nearly 800, with over 3,000 people missing. In Nepal, 781 people have been confirmed dead and 2,502 are missing. On the Chinese side, in Tibet, 16 deaths have been confirmed in Gyirong County, with 546 missing. Additionally, 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are unaccounted for. The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people have been affected. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described it as the most severe cross-border disaster in years. Meanwhile, fresh heavy rainfall has raised water levels in the Trishuli River, posing a risk of further flooding, and rescue teams have had to suspend operations multiple times due to poor weather. In Nepal, the army has mobilized about 10,000 troops to expedite efforts to rescue around 350 workers possibly trapped in a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli project. Authorities have begun burying hundreds of unidentified victims in mass graves as bodies start to decompose, while DNA samples are being collected for later identification. Chinese scientists attribute the disaster to glacier instability caused by global warming. The Chinese government has dispatched over 2,100 rescue personnel and allocated emergency funds of no less than 220 million yuan.
Nepal Landslide Death Toll Rises to 489, Search for Missing Continues
Rescue teams in Nepal are still searching for those missing from the landslides and flash floods that occurred on Wednesday, with the confirmed death toll rising to 489 today and 2,381 people still missing, including 644 foreigners, mostly from India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. After a glacial lake outburst, a massive volume of water, along with rocks and mud, rushed down rivers in the Himalayas. Authorities are using helicopters to search for survivors and deliver relief supplies. Meanwhile, the disaster management agency warned that a lake formed by debris blocking the Bhote Koshi River is rising and at risk of bursting. It is estimated that about 3 million cubic meters of water will flow into the lake in the next three days, with peak water levels expected on September 1. China has sent a team of engineers to survey and create a 3D model of the lake, but access is difficult due to cliffs that have split into steep gorges. The risk reduction approach involves digging a drainage channel at the lowest point of the barrier, with the width and depth calculated based on the flow velocity and the rate of water level rise.
Nepal and China Warn of Repeat Flood Risk After New Landslide-Dammed Lake Found
Nepal and China issued warnings on Thursday about the risk of new flooding in the Himalayan region after a newly formed landslide-dammed lake on both sides of the border saw water levels rise and threatened to burst, compounding an area already facing a major flood crisis that has killed at least 362 people and left nearly 1,000 missing. The event was caused by a glacial collapse that swept debris into the river, while Nepal's disaster management agency warned that a landslide-dammed lake formed by debris blocking the waterway was rising and at risk of bursting. Chinese authorities warned that about 3 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to roughly 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, could flow into the landslide-dammed lake on the Chinese side within the next three days, with levels expected to peak around September 1, and expected increased rainfall next week would further heighten the risk. China's CGTN television reported that rescue teams had captured aerial footage of the lake's formation, and Zhu Jinfeng, a researcher from the Hydrology Department of China's Ministry of Water Resources, said water levels were still rising and so was the risk.
Experts Point to Glacial Collapse as Cause of Nepal Floods, Nearly 1,500 Missing
Experts suspect that a glacial collapse from an altitude of over 5,000 meters triggered the massive flash floods in Nepal, resulting in nearly 170 deaths and almost 1,500 people missing, including at least 700 foreigners. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs confirms that the glacier's terminus collapsed into a valley about 1,200 meters below, sending a torrent of ice, rock, and sediment into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, with water levels in the Galchhi area rising by 9 meters within 30 minutes. Experts have not yet concluded that climate change is the direct cause, but data from the United Nations indicates that Nepal's glaciers have lost nearly one-third of their ice over the past 30 years, with the melting rate accelerating by 65% in the last decade.
Nepal-Tibet Floods and Landslides Kill 168, Leave 1,381 Missing
Search and rescue operations along the Nepal-China border are continuing urgently after severe flash floods and landslides. The combined death toll in both countries has risen to at least 168, with at least 1,381 people still missing. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that the death toll from flash floods in northern Nepal stands at 165, with 823 missing, including 590 foreign tourists from 29 countries such as India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. On the Chinese side, landslides have hit the Gyirong border crossing in the Tibet Autonomous Region, killing 3 people and leaving 558 missing. The incident was triggered by a glacial lake outburst, causing the Bhote Koshi River to overflow, damaging homes and infrastructure, including a hydropower plant.
China evacuates 54,000 people after Typhoon Nara hits Guangxi
Chinese authorities evacuated about 54,000 people from flood-hit areas in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after Typhoon Nara brought heavy rain and widespread flooding over the past weekend. Of those, 8,087 were taken to emergency shelters. Water levels at 20 monitoring stations on 15 rivers exceeded warning levels, and heavy rain is expected to continue covering southern China until Wednesday, August 26. The severe weather also forced China to postpone the launch of the unmanned Chang'e-7 lunar probe from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island, with Thailand's National Astronomical Research Institute saying the cause was the typhoon.
Research warns Bangkok at risk of severe drought from super El Niño
New research warns that a super El Niño forming late this year will severely affect 12 major Asian cities, with Bangkok and five other cities at risk of prolonged drought lasting several months, while Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Colombo could face severe flooding. The report by WaterAid, prepared by academics from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University, analysed 44 years of rainfall data and found that the stronger the El Niño, the more rainfall deviates from normal. Sea surface temperatures could rise up to 3.6 degrees Celsius above normal, compared with the previous record of 2.75 degrees Celsius in 2015-2016. Researchers warn that we are entering uncharted territory, and the global food crisis could worsen as a result.
Colombia estimates earthquake damage at 9.58 billion dollars
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said the economic damage from last week's powerful earthquake could reach 30 trillion pesos, or about 9.58 billion US dollars. Of that total, building damage accounts for roughly 24.5 trillion pesos and infrastructure damage for about 5.5 trillion pesos. The figure is only a preliminary estimate and may be revised as more information becomes available. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10 killed 280 people, injured more than 4,000, and left 143 missing. It is the first major crisis de la Espriella has faced since taking office just days earlier.
Kasikorn Research Center says Thai businesses risk growing below 2%
Kasikorn Research Center assesses that the Thai economy in the period ahead could grow below 2%, with 2026 expected at around 2% amid pressure from stricter environmental regulations, natural disasters, and geopolitical conflicts. Ms. Kaewalin Wangpichayasuk, Deputy Managing Director, said Thai businesses face three main risks: the European Union's CBAM measures affecting steel and aluminium, drought and flash floods from a super El Niño pressuring agricultural output, and Middle East conflicts plus trade wars making transport and energy more expensive. Manufacturing and processed agriculture are the most worrying sectors, while clean energy, health, technology, and FDI businesses have growth opportunities. The government should monitor and issue warnings, reduce hidden costs, and design targeted policies to help entrepreneurs adapt.
Torrential rain hits Japan, floods Chiba, 7,000 passengers stranded at Narita Airport, 4 dead
Record heavy rain in Japan has left around 7,000 passengers stranded at Narita Airport and killed at least 4 people in Chiba Prefecture. Parts of Chiba Prefecture received more than 360 millimetres of rain within 24 hours, flooding roads and railway lines, leaving nearly 25,000 homes without power, and keeping several major highways closed, including the route linking Narita Airport with central Tokyo. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the event was extremely severe and abnormal, even compared with weather previously seen in Japan. Japan Airlines said some flights may be delayed, but no cancellations are currently expected.
Europe's extreme weather weighs on growth, Standard Chartered says
Standard Chartered analysts Christopher Graham and Emily Ashford say Europe's record heat and drought in 2026 are disrupting refiners, power generation, inland waterways and agriculture, weighing on growth.
Global ocean temperature hits record 20.96°C in July amid El Niño
The global average sea surface temperature outside the polar regions in July 2026 surged to 20.96 degrees Celsius, breaking the record for July, according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The previous record was 20.89 degrees Celsius in 2023, partly driven by an emerging El Niño in the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, last month tied as the second-hottest July on record globally, with global temperatures about 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, with an average temperature of 21.62 degrees Celsius, 2.79 degrees above the norm. The persistent hot and dry conditions also fueled severe wildfires in several areas. Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said July 2026 marked the third consecutive month of exceptional heat in Western Europe, warning that extreme weather is becoming the new normal.
Indonesia Races to Control Forest Fires in Six Provinces as Cross-Border Haze Affects Malaysia
Indonesia is racing to control forest and agricultural fires in six provinces after haze drifted across the border and affected air quality in Malaysia. The government has designated key monitoring areas, including Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, and has deployed 43 helicopters and 15 aircraft to fight the fires and conduct cloud seeding amid dry weather from the El Niño phenomenon. Data from Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry shows that from January to June, around 107,465 hectares of land have been burned, an increase of 110 percent from the same period in 2023. In Malaysia, 11 areas in Sarawak state recorded unhealthy air quality levels, and schools have been ordered to suspend outdoor activities if the air quality index exceeds 100. Meanwhile, the city of Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, has ordered schools to switch entirely to online learning.
ONWR warns Mekong River to rise 0.5–1.5 metres, risking flooding in the Northeast from 11 to 15 August
The Office of National Water Resources has warned that water levels in the Mekong River are expected to rise by 0.5 to 1.5 metres between 11 and 15 August 2026, from Chiang Khan District in Loei Province to Khong Chiam District in Ubon Ratchathani Province, due to heavy to very heavy rainfall in Thailand's northeastern region and central Laos, combined with a strong southwest monsoon. Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources, Mr. Phaithun Kengkanchang, disclosed that relevant agencies and the eight provinces along the Mekong River should alert the public to beware of sudden water level rises and overbank flows, especially in low-lying areas of Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan provinces. Meanwhile, the Xayaburi Dam in Laos is discharging water at a rate of 14,949 cubic metres per second, which could cause widespread flooding. The Office of National Water Resources has coordinated with the Mekong River Commission to monitor data and advance water release plans, while implementing response measures such as deploying machinery, dredging canals, and preparing to close floodgates if the Mekong River level backs up, in order to prevent damage to lives and property.
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti orders establishment of five regional boards to tackle super El Niño
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphat has ordered the formation of five regional committees to cope with the super El Niño phenomenon, deploying geospatial technology to create real-time risk maps and operational checklists for provinces to manage their areas. Provincial governors must set up incident command centres to assist vulnerable groups and strictly protect economic zones. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has prepared machinery and personnel for 24-hour surveillance, and will use the Cell Broadcast system along with community leaders to warn households. The government has also inspected the flood barrier at Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province to safeguard the ancient site from rising water levels in the Chao Phraya River.
China evacuates over 1 million people as Typhoon Dolphin hits, Shanghai sees heaviest rain in 150 years
China has evacuated more than 1 million people in eastern regions after Typhoon Dolphin made landfall and brought heavy rain to many areas. The city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province relocated over 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,500 emergency shelters. Meanwhile, Fujian province moved another 98,900 people from high-risk zones, and Shanghai evacuated 215,600 people by Sunday evening. A weather station in central Shanghai recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall in over 150 years. The city's two airports cancelled a combined total of more than 1,300 flights. The storm weakened into a tropical storm on Monday morning but continues to move northward and deeper inland, putting many parts of eastern and central China at risk of persistent heavy rain through Wednesday. Some areas could see accumulated rainfall of 200 to 400 millimetres.
Ekanit orders creation of Risk Map to handle floods and drought in central region
Deputy Prime Minister Ekanit Nitithanpraphat has ordered the creation of a risk map, or Risk Map, for water management in the central region. The directive was issued during the first meeting of the Committee for Flood and Drought Prevention and Mitigation in the Central Region for the year 2569. Relevant agencies are to integrate geospatial technology from GISTDA, the Office of National Water Resources, the Meteorological Department, the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to jointly assess risk points in real time. They are also to prepare operational checklists for provincial governors to implement immediately, such as inspecting sluice gates, installing water pumps, and preparing water retention areas. In addition, he ordered the establishment of provincial incident command centers, the setting up of temporary shelters, and the rapid dissemination of water situation information through two-way communication systems. This aims to reduce risks from the super El Niño phenomenon that is approaching Thailand. In the central region, there are 124 villages at very high risk of flooding across 8 provinces, and 533 villages at high risk across 12 provinces. For drought, there are 66 villages at very high risk in 2 provinces, and 105 villages at high risk in 3 provinces.
Government sets up 24-hour war room to tackle overlapping floods and drought in the north
The government has ordered the establishment of round-the-clock sub-command centres to handle the simultaneous flood and drought crisis in the northern region, while unlocking bureaucratic regulations to allow provincial governors to immediately draw emergency contingency funds, with priority given to assisting vulnerable groups and accelerating post-flood recovery. Captain Pattarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Yotchanan Wongswasdi, in his capacity as chairman of the committee for flood and drought prevention and resolution in the north, has instructed all provinces to set up incident sub-command centres and keep personnel, machinery, and water pumps on standby 24 hours a day. If resources are insufficient, military forces and regional disaster prevention and mitigation centres are to be deployed immediately. He also ordered the urgent reservation of water for consumption in drought-risk areas and directed officials to survey damage and expedite compensation payments as quickly as possible.
Thai Meteorological Department warns of heavy rain in North, Northeast, and East on August 8-9, risk of flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department issued Announcement No. 9, warning that during August 8-9, 2026, the North, Northeast, and East will experience heavy to very heavy rain in some areas, while the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the South, will see heavy rain in some places due to a monsoon trough and a rather strong southwest monsoon. The department urges the public to beware of flash floods and forest runoff, especially in foothill and low-lying areas. The upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will have waves 2-3 meters high, and over 3 meters in thundershowers. Small boats should absolutely refrain from going out to sea during this period.