Extreme Weather Events and Urban Flooding in Southeast AsiaCEFR B1
22 Sept 2025
Adapted from Hasya Nindita, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Kelvin Zyteng, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Extreme weather events, linked to climate change, are increasing in frequency and intensity across Southeast Asia. In March 2025, Jakarta experienced torrential rains resulting in severe flooding, killing at least nine residents and displacing around 90,000 people. Similar flooding issues can be seen in other major cities like Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, where heavy rains have disrupted daily life and caused traffic chaos.
The urban flooding in these cities highlights the impact of inadequate infrastructure and climate-related challenges. Traditional urban planning techniques fail to mitigate the increasing risks posed by extreme weather. In response, some cities are looking to innovative solutions, such as the “sponge city” concept from China, which aims to better manage urban water runoff and improve flood resilience.
However, the implementation of sponge cities faces challenges, including costs and political will. The urgency for effective solutions is heightened as climate change continues to contribute to more frequent and severe extreme weather events in the region.
Difficult words
- infrastructure — the basic systems needed for a city.inadequate
- flooding — water covering land that is normally dry.flood
- innovative — new and creative ideas or methods.
- manage — to control or organize something.
- resilience — the ability to recover from difficulties.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can cities improve their infrastructure to prevent flooding?
- What innovative solutions could be implemented in your city?
- Why is it important to address climate-related challenges now?
- In what ways can communities adapt to extreme weather events?
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