Cyclone Ditwah causes deadly landslides and flooding in Sri Lanka, killing 46 and forcing nearly 44,000 people into emergency shelters.
COLOMBO: Cyclone Ditwah battered Sri Lanka on Friday, resulting in at least 46 deaths and leaving 23 individuals missing as torrential rains triggered widespread flooding and deadly landslides across multiple provinces.
According to the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), more than 43,991 people have been displaced and moved to temporary shelters, including schools and public buildings, particularly in the eastern and central regions, which bore the brunt of the storm. Some families were reportedly stranded on rooftops before being rescued by emergency teams.
The cyclone brought over 300 millimetres of rainfall within a 24-hour period, overwhelming drainage systems and causing multiple landslides. Authorities have warned that the storm may intensify further over the next 12 hours, prompting alerts for continued heavy rainfall, flash floods, and potential landslide risks in vulnerable areas.
The Sri Lanka Meteorological Department has urged residents to stay indoors and avoid low-lying or landslide-prone zones as emergency responders work around the clock to support affected communities.
As a safety precaution, schools across the island were closed, train services suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange announced an early halt to trading operations. Relief efforts are underway, coordinated by the DMC and local disaster response agencies.
Sri Lanka frequently faces weather-related challenges during the monsoon and cyclone seasons, but Cyclone Ditwah marks one of the most intense recent events, particularly in terms of displacement and infrastructure disruption.
Government officials have assured the public of continued aid delivery, with the military and police forces supporting evacuation and supply distribution in the hardest-hit areas.
