Kandy: Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst weather disasters in years, with at least 193 people confirmed dead after floods and landslides swept through large parts of the island following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
More than 200 people remain missing, and close to 20,000 homes have been destroyed, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Over 108,000 residents have been forced into state-run temporary shelters, as authorities struggle to restore electricity and water supplies across nearly a third of the country.
A state of emergency has been declared, and evacuation orders remain in place in multiple districts as the Kelani River continues to rise rapidly, threatening further inundation.
Communities cut off as rescue efforts continue
The highest number of casualties has been reported in Kandy and Badulla, where access remains severely restricted due to ongoing landslides. Entire villages have been isolated.
Long Bà Mùi@Pexels | Cropped by BH
In Kurunegala, 11 elderly residents at a care home drowned after floodwaters surged into the building. Meanwhile, 69 passengers trapped in a submerged bus in Anuradhapura were rescued after a 24-hour operation.
Government appeals for global support
The Sri Lankan government has issued an urgent call for international aid, requesting assistance from global partners and urging citizens abroad to contribute to relief efforts for the hundreds of thousands affected. Cyclone Ditwah passed along Sri Lanka’s eastern coast before moving away, but its heavy rains intensified the ongoing monsoon season, producing the rare and extreme conditions currently gripping the nation.
The disaster is now considered one of the deadliest since June 2003, when floods killed 254 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. This catastrophe comes as South East Asia battles severe regional flooding, with millions affected across Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
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