South Asia has improved its ability to predict weather patterns, yet it is still developing the necessary infrastructure to assess the specific impacts that can save lives. This is where artificial intelligence—used judiciously within robust public systems—can significantly enhance disaster response efforts.
Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic damage in Sri Lanka—over 600 fatalities, hundreds unaccounted for, and more than a million people affected—despite accurate weather forecasting. Meteorologists monitored the cyclone days in advance and issued warnings. However, communities in the central hills were still devastated by landslides, and numerous districts are isolated due to flooding. This same week, additional storm systems led to the deaths of over 900 individuals across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In southern India, heavy rains from Ditwah’s aftereffects are resulting in waterlogging and transportation disruptions in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.
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