Heavy storm uprooted a tree, disrupting traffic in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh. A heavy storm lashed Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on 23 July 2026, toppling a tree that fell onto and crushed vehicles in the central part of the city. However, no injuries were reported in the incident. Authorities warned residents to exercise the utmost caution during the rainy season, as it is often accompanied by strong winds, and to avoid being under large trees or billboards to protect lives and property.

Source: Khmer Times. (2026, July 24). IN PICTURES: Heavy storm topples tree in Phnom Penh.

Moderate earthquakes struck Indonesia, with tremors felt in neighbouring countries. On 22 July 2026, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh, Indonesia at 11.18 a.m. at a depth of 10 km., followed by several moderate aftershocks. Although no tsunami warning was issued, tremors were felt across the province as well as in neighbouring North Sumatra and nearby countries, including Thailand and Malaysia. The earthquake shattered glassware and swayed large objects. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency urged residents to remain calm and stay clear of damaged or cracked structures.

Source: Antara News. (2026, July 22). M5.5 earthquake jolts Aceh, tremors felt in neighboring province. FMT News. (2026, July 22). Tremors felt in Klang Valley after North Sumatra earthquake. The Nation. (2026, July 22). Magnitude-5.1 Sumatra earthquake felt across parts of Phuket.

Malaysia’s Tawau declared a disaster zone amid severe flooding. Flooding hit many parts of Tawau district in Sabah State, Malaysia on 24 July 2026, prompting the Tawau Natural Disaster Committee to declare it a disaster zone the following day. A total of 335 affected people from 96 families were placed at temporary relief centres, while more than 5,500 household and commercial properties experienced water supply disruptions. The Sabah Chief Minister directed all relevant agencies to mobilise assets and manpower to expedite rescue operations for the affected residents.

Source: The Star. (2026, July 25). Floods: Tawau declared disaster zone following continuing rains. The Sun. (2026, July 25). Tawau floods: 335 victims moved to relief centre. FMT. (2026, July 26). Tawau floods disrupt water supply to over 5,500 premises.

Indonesia's Rice Production Faces Pressure as El Niño Prolongs Dry Season. Indonesia's rice sector is expected to face increasing pressure in the second half of 2026 as El Niño prolongs the dry season, reducing rainfall, worsening water shortages, and lowering rice yields. According to the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), rice production declined for three consecutive months from March to May 2026, with April output falling by more than 800,000 MT year-on-year. Researchers expect production losses to worsen in the second half of the year due to intensifying drought. Despite these concerns, President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia achieved rice self-sufficiency in 2025, with production reaching 34.71 million MT, exceeding domestic consumption of 31.19 million MT. The Agriculture Ministry added that irrigation pump deployment is being expanded and national rice reserves remain sufficient to meet demand until 2027.

Source: Asia News Network. (2026, July 28). Crop failures threaten Indonesia as dry season drags on.

Vietnam's Rice Sector Faces El Niño and Rising Input Costs. Vietnam's rice sector is facing growing pressure from a strengthening El Niño, which has prolonged dry weather and threatened production in key growing areas. In central Vietnam, two months of drought have damaged rice crops, while rising fuel and fertilizer costs have increased production expenses, reducing farmers' profitability. Some farmers have been forced to seek additional income or adopt water-saving practices due to limited irrigation and high input costs. In addition, the Vietnamese government has cautioned that severe El Niño conditions could affect more than 350,000 hectares of rice fields. Concerns over tighter regional supply have also supported higher rice prices, with analysts expecting prices to remain firm over the next 12 – 18 months as weather risks and production costs continue to weigh on output.

Source: The Star. (2026, July 27). El Nino worsens the plight of Asia’s rice belt.

Japan's Domestic Rice Consumption Falls to Record Low. According to the preliminary data, Japan's domestic rice consumption for staple food fell to a record low of 6.83 million MT (brown rice basis) in the year from July 2025. The decline was driven by increased purchases of lower-priced imported rice as consumers sought alternatives following sharp rises in domestic rice prices caused by severe shortages in 2024. In addition, in September 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture estimated demand for domestic rice as a staple food for the one-year period at 6.97 – 7.11 million MT. The projection was decreased to 6.91 – 7.04 million MT, highlighting that the government's estimates continued to overstate demand. The discrepancy follows the rice market disruption that began in summer 2024, when inaccurate demand projections contributed to supply shortages and price volatility.

Source: nippon.com. (2026, July 28). Consumption of Domestic Rice Hits Record Low in Japan.