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At least 56 people have died and more than a dozen remain missing as severe floods and landslides battered Sri Lanka this week. Days of intense rainfall, worsened by Cyclone Ditwah brushing the island’s eastern coast, led to widespread destruction. Videos shared on social media captured homes being swept away as river levels continued to rise.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre reported that nearly 44,000 people have been affected, with warnings issued for residents in low-lying regions to move to safer areas. The country’s meteorological department has forecast more than 200 mm of rain in certain central and northern districts, raising fears of further flooding.
Transport systems have been severely disrupted. Most train services across the country have been cancelled, and key inter-provincial roads are closed due to damage and safety concerns. The Sri Lankan military has deployed over 20,000 personnel to assist in rescue and relief operations.
Though the nation is in its monsoon season, authorities note that the scale of the disaster is unusual. This is the most severe weather event in recent years, with the worst in recent history occurring in 2003, when more than 250 people lost their lives.
Responding to a request from Sri Lanka, India has agreed to send helicopters from INS Vikrant to support relief efforts.
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