From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean communities experienced earthquakes, heatwaves, floods, volcanic eruptions and powerful storms. These events revealed the fragility of infrastructure, the vulnerability of the population, the far reaching economic and humanitarian impact of extreme natural phenomena.
Tibet Earthquake, January 2025
This year began with a severe earthquake on January 7 in Tingri Country, Tibet with a Magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale. It claimed at least 126 lives and injured nearly 200 entire villages were destroyed amid freezing winter temperatures leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Rescue operations were complicated by the region’s harsh terrain and sub-zero conditions. The quake’s tremors were felt across Nepal, Bhutan and northern India underscoring the seismic risk of the Himalayan region where tectonic plates converge.
India Heatwave, February–April 2025
In early 2025 India was gripped by a prolonged heatwave with temperatures rising up to 7–9°C above seasonal norms. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan were affected with thousands suffering from heatstroke.
Government data reported 14 confirmed deaths, but independent estimates suggest the toll was far higher. The heatwave exposed systemic vulnerabilities, particularly among outdoor workers, the elderly and children, while highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the subcontinent.
Myanmar Earthquake, March 2025
On March 28, central Myanmar experienced a magnitude 7.7 earthquake near Mandalay and more than 3,600 people died, with over 5,000 injured, homes, bridges and heritage structures were destroyed, leaving entire communities displaced.
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Satellite imagery revealed widespread urban devastation and relief efforts were hampered by difficult terrain and ongoing regional conflicts. Neighbouring countries also reported tremors emphasizing the area’s seismic volatility.
North India Flash Floods, August 2025
In Punjab, excessive rainfall caused rivers like the Sutlej and Ravi to overflow killing at least 57 people and affecting over 2 million residents. Uttarakhand saw flash floods and debris flows burying towns, while Himachal Pradesh experienced landslides and cloudbursts that claimed hundreds of lives.
Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan and Haryana faced severe water logging, displacing thousands and damaging infrastructure, farmland and homes.
Hurricane Melissa, October 2025
Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean in late October as a Category 5 storm affecting Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas where over 45 death were reported in Jamaica alone and tens of thousands of people were displaced.
Winds reached nearly 300 kmph, flattening communities and destroying critical infrastructure. The Floodwaters triggered health crises including a leptospirosis outbreak which highlighted the compounded risks of tropical cyclones.
Ethiopia Volcano Eruption, November 2025
In November, Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash 14 km into the atmosphere. Villages in the Afar region were blanketed in ash, affecting the health, livestock and livelihoods of the people living there.
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High-altitude ash clouds disrupted air traffic as far away as India, forcing widespread flight cancellations and precautionary measures, demonstrating how volcanic activity can have far-reaching regional impacts.
Indonesia’s Sumatra Floods & Landslides, November 2025
Sumatra faced relentless monsoon rains in late November, triggering floods and landslides that killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than 1.2 million. Roads and communications collapsed, complicating rescue operations, thousands of homes and farms were destroyed, leaving survivors in overcrowded shelters.
The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of densely populated, low-lying regions to extreme rainfall events and landslide risks.
Cyclone Ditwah, November–December 2025
Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka and parts of southern India between late November and December. Torrential rain, landslides and flooding killed over 643 people in Sri Lanka and displaced millions. The cyclone’s impact on agriculture, infrastructure and housing was massive with estimated damages exceeding $4 billion which is approximately 4% of Sri Lanka’s GDP.
Southern Indian states including Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also experienced severe flooding, highlighting the cross-border nature of such extreme weather events.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not replace official disaster or governmental reports.
