Cyclone Ditwa leaves 159 dead as Sri Lanka battles widespread floods

Authorities in Sri Lanka are struggling to control rising floodwaters in parts of the capital following the passage of Cyclone Ditwa, which has claimed at least 159 lives nationwide, AFP reports.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said northern Colombo is facing severe flooding as water levels in the Kelani River continue to rise. In addition to the fatalities, 203 people remain missing after a week of torrential rains caused by the cyclone, which left the island on Saturday.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster and appealed for international assistance. India was the first to respond, sending humanitarian aid along with two helicopters and crews for rescue operations. Japan announced it would deploy a team to assess urgent needs and pledged further support.

Although rainfall has eased across the country, several roads in the hardest-hit Central Province remain inaccessible, according to the DMC. More than 20,000 homes have been destroyed, and 122,000 people have been placed in government-run temporary shelters. A further 833,000 people remain in need of assistance after being forced to evacuate their homes.

Military personnel from the army, navy, and air force, alongside civilian workers and volunteers, have been deployed to assist in relief efforts. Officials reported that around one-third of the country remains without electricity or running water due to damaged power lines and flooded treatment facilities, with internet services also disrupted.

Cyclone Ditwa is the deadliest natural disaster in Sri Lanka since 2017, when floods and landslides killed more than 200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. The most severe flooding of the century occurred in June 2003, claiming 254 lives.

By Khagan Isayev