Flooding across much of south-east Asia fuelled by a rare cluster of three tropical storms has claimed the lives of more than 400 people in five countries, with Indonesia and Thailand the worst hit so far.

JAKARTA -- The death toll from recent floods and landslides across three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island has risen to 442, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Sunday.

Rescuers are hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment after flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island that killed at least 82 people