Sri Lanka Cyclone Ditvaha has caused devastating floods in parts of the capital Colombo, with the death toll reaching 193 and 228 people still missing, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC).
The cyclone’s week-long heavy rains caused massive flooding and landslides across the island, with the full extent of the destruction in the central region now becoming clear as relief workers cleared blocked roads.
“Though the cyclone has left us, now due to heavy rains, low-lying areas along the Kelani river are inundated,” a DMC official said, adding that flood waters are rising in northern parts of the capital.
Selvi, 46, fled her flooded home in Colombo’s suburb of Wennewatea, taking with her all the property she owned. “My house is completely flooded. I don’t know where to go, but I hope there is a safe shelter where I can take my family,” she told AFP news agency.
As flood waters receded in Manampitiya, 250 km (155 mi) northeast of Colombo, the scale of the destruction became visible.
“Manampitiya is a flood-prone town, but I have never seen this amount of water,” said S Sivanandan, a 72-year-old resident. He described widespread damage to businesses and property.
The disaster has created urgent medical needs, with blood supplies critically depleted. Blood bank head, Lakshman Edirisinghe, said only 236 units were received on Saturday against the daily requirement of 1,500. “Due to floods and heavy rains, we were unable to conduct our mobile campaigns to collect blood,” he said while urging blood donors to visit blood banks.
Authorities have warned of continued danger of landslides as mountain slopes remain inundated with rainwater.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international aid. India responded immediately with relief supplies and rescue helicopters, while Pakistan and Japan have also pledged support.
The cyclone has destroyed more than 25,000 homes, forcing 147,000 people into temporary shelters, with another 968,000 people in need of assistance after being displaced. Military personnel are working closely with civilian responders in the massive relief effort.
It is Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when floods and landslides killed more than 200 people. The country’s worst flood in this century occurred in June 2003, killing 254 people.
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