The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has climbed to 123, while another 130 people remain unaccounted for, officials said Saturday.
According to the country’s Disaster Management Center, nearly 44,000 residents have been forced from their homes and are now staying in temporary shelters. Authorities warned that the number of fatalities could rise further as rescuers struggle to reach several remote areas hit by mudslides overnight. Images circulating on social media showed entire slopes collapsed onto villages and roads that emergency teams have yet to access.
Sri Lanka has endured days of severe weather, which intensified on Thursday when torrential rain pounded large parts of the island. Homes, farmland and road networks were submerged, while numerous landslides were reported across the central highlands, known for their tea estates.
In response, the government suspended office operations and closed all schools, also postponing scheduled examinations. Overflowing rivers and reservoirs have blocked major highways, while fallen trees, mud and debris have made rail lines unusable. Passenger train services were halted, and authorities closed several key roads nationwide.
By Friday, floodwaters began moving downstream from the worst-hit regions, inundating low-lying areas around the capital, Colombo, which had initially seen lighter rainfall compared to the interior.
Cyclone Ditwah formed over the seas east of Sri Lanka and is expected to track toward India’s southern coast by Sunday, officials said. Weather forecasters predict more rainfall on Saturday as the storm system passes over the northern regions of the country.
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