On his Twitter account, Rodriguez gave “heartfelt condolences” to the governments, people, and especially the families of the victims.

“We express our solidarity with the countries of Southeast Asia that are suffering the ravages of heavy rains, floods, and other weather phenomena,” the minister wrote.

The figures are devastating: at least 604 people have died in Indonesia, 355 in Sri Lanka, 176 in southern Thailand, and two in Malaysia, according to official reports.

In total, more than 1,135 lives have been lost, and millions of residents have seen their homes flooded by torrential downpours, landslides, and overflowing rivers.

In Sri Lanka, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the situation as the most complex rescue operation in the country’s recent history.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, more than 460 people remain missing, and the armed forces are working tirelessly to assist isolated communities.

In Thailand, some 2.8 million people have been affected. Helicopters have transported oxygen, medicine, and food to cut-off areas. In Malaysia, hundreds of people have been evacuated.

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