SRI LANKA’S death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has surged to 212, with a further 218 people still missing, as the country battles one of its worst natural disasters in recent years.
Reuters cited Authorities saying on Sunday that rescue and relief operations have now entered their fourth day, with floodwaters continuing to engulf towns and villages across the island.
Nearly one million people have been affected by the torrential rains and widespread flooding that struck from Thursday, forcing almost 200,000 residents into 1,275 temporary shelters, according to the Disaster Management Centre.
The deluge triggered multiple landslides in the central highlands while rivers burst their banks, inundating communities nationwide.
More than 24,000 members of the police, army and air force remain deployed as emergency teams attempt to reach families cut off by rising waters.
The crisis escalated further after the dam of the Mavil Aru Reservoir in the island’s east was breached, prompting the air force to airlift over 120 people to safety. Another 2,000 residents were relocated to higher ground, the military said.
Colombo, the commercial capital, is among the hardest-hit areas, with dozens of families trapped in their homes.
In the suburb of Kelaniya, where thousands are sheltering in makeshift centres, residents said aid remains insufficient despite state agencies and donors providing cooked meals. More than 17,000 people are currently seeking refuge in shelters while awaiting the recession of floodwaters.
Sunethra Priyadarshani, 37, said she and her sister were stranded for two days on the upper floor of their home with their four children. “We slowly ran out of food. We only had biscuits and water to give them last night,” she told Reuters.
The family was eventually rescued by boat. “We only have the clothes we are wearing. We will go stay at an aunt’s house for now. But we really need help.”
The Irrigation Department expects floodwaters to subside gradually over the next three days as the cyclone shifts towards southern India. Authorities also said power, water and communications—severely disrupted after transmission lines and transformers were washed away—would be restored in stages over the same period.
Sri Lanka’s disaster comes amid a broader wave of extreme weather across Southeast Asia.
Officials confirmed on Sunday that Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have together recorded more than 600 deaths from floods and landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains, with relief efforts for tens of thousands of displaced residents continuing through the weekend. - December 1, 2025
