The death toll from severe floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has reached 153, with 191 people still missing, the country's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported on Saturday. Over 78,000 people have been evacuated to nearly 800 state-run welfare centres after their homes were destroyed by torrential rains that have lashed the island for a week.
Among the dead were 11 residents of a care home for elderly people that was flooded in the north-central district of Kurunegala. The DMC said the weather system was moving away towards India but had already affected more than 500,000 people nationwide. Relief operations involving thousands of police and military personnel are distributing food, clearing roads, and moving trapped families to safety.
In a dramatic 24-hour operation, the military rescued 69 bus passengers, including a German tourist, stranded in the Anuradhapura district. One passenger, WM Shantha, described how navy personnel used ropes to guide them through floodwater to a house roof, part of which collapsed. A helicopter rescue attempt was aborted due to the risk of the downdraft blowing away the roof, but naval boats later succeeded.
The cyclone made landfall on Wednesday, causing record rainfall. The Kelani River, flowing through Colombo, burst its banks on Friday evening, forcing hundreds to evacuate. Mallika Kumari, a resident of Malwana, said she fled with her children without any belongings, leaving her cat behind, which was later rescued by a navy boat crew. Other residents chose to stay on upper floors of partially submerged homes to protect their possessions.
The DMC noted that the death toll could surpass that of 2016, when 71 people died, and is the highest since June last year. India has sent a planeload of supplies, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, stating New Delhi is ready to provide more aid. At least 3,000 homes have been damaged by mudslides and floods, and dozens of stranded tourists have been evacuated to Colombo from central tea-growing areas.
