'Truly severe' floods overwhelm Southeast Asia

Authorities across Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia worked on Thursday to reach residents trapped in floods that have killed dozens of people across the region in recent days.

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The toll from floods and landslides rose to 19 in Indonesia’s North Sumatra, which has been battered by heavy rain for days, with dozens still missing.

Road access to some areas has been cut off by debris, with communications and electricity down too, national search and rescue agency official Emy Freezer told reporters.

Heavy rain in Aceh has also forced the evacuation of thousands of people.

"This flood is truly severe," said 47-year-old Ibnu Sina, whose home in Aceh's second city Lhokseumawe was inundated.

The region’s main highway was now impassable, he told repoters, leaving the region "completely paralysed."