The death toll from floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka surged to 334 on Sunday, with nearly 400 people still missing, authorities said. The disaster, the worst to strike the island in two decades, has left over 1.3 million people affected, particularly in the central region, as relief workers continue clearing blocked roads.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who declared a state of emergency, vowed to rebuild the nation with international support. “We are facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history. Certainly, we will build a better nation than what existed before,” he said.
The scale of the damage rivals that of the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed around 31,000 people. Although rainfall has subsided, low-lying areas of the capital remain flooded, and authorities are mobilising a major relief operation.
A Bell 212 helicopter delivering food to stranded patients north of Colombo crashed into a river, with all five crew members surviving and taken to hospital. Another helicopter from India rescued 24 people, including a pregnant woman and a man in a wheelchair, from Kotmale, about 90 km northeast of Colombo. Pakistan and Japan have also pledged support, sending teams to assist with rescue and assessment operations.
Residents described widespread devastation. In Colombo’s suburb of Wennawatte, Selvi, 46, said, “My house is completely flooded. I don’t know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter for my family.” In Manampitiya, 250 km northeast of Colombo, receding waters revealed severe destruction, with property and businesses extensively damaged.
Authorities warned of continued landslide risks, as mountain slopes remain saturated. The National Blood Transfusion Service reported critical shortages, and the National Building Research Organisation cautioned about further landslides.
The last flood of comparable severity in Sri Lanka occurred in June 2003, which killed 254 people. Relief and rescue efforts continue as the nation grapples with this unprecedented natural disaster.
