At least 159 people have been confirmed dead across Sri Lanka as authorities struggle to contain rising floodwaters in parts of the capital following the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) warned on Sunday that more heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days, while over 200 people remain missing.
Local media outlet Daily Mirror reported that five Navy personnel are among the missing after they were last seen attempting to divert overflowing water at a naval sub-station in Chalai Lagoon in the northeast.
Homes Destroyed and Tens of Thousands Displaced
Cyclone Ditwah has wiped out nearly 15,000 homes, forcing 44,000 people into government-run temporary shelters, according to DMC officials.
Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez, reporting from Sammanthurai, said the country is overwhelmed by the scale of destruction.
“Some neighbourhoods are completely buried under mud, and each one brings more despair,” she said. “Communication lines are down, and some areas still cannot send updates.”
In agricultural regions, newly planted rice fields were submerged under relentless rainfall, worsening the impact on local livelihoods.
Colombo Battles Rising Waters
In the capital, northern Colombo is experiencing severe flooding as the Kelani River continues to rise, the DMC reported.
“Although the cyclone has passed, heavy rains upstream are now flooding low-lying areas along the Kelani River,” a DMC official said.
State of Emergency and International Aid
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday to manage the crisis and appealed for international assistance.
India was the first country to respond, sending relief supplies and two helicopters with rescue crews. Japan also pledged support, announcing it will dispatch a team to assess urgent needs and coordinate further aid.
Despite the easing rain, many key roads in the worst-affected central province remain inaccessible, the DMC said.
Updated figures indicate the cyclone has destroyed more than 20,000 homes and pushed 122,000 people into shelters. An additional 833,000 people require assistance after being displaced by the floods.
Infrastructure Crippled, Power and Water Cut Off
Soldiers from the army, navy, and air force have been deployed alongside civilian volunteers to support search, rescue, and relief operations.
However, essential services remain severely disrupted. About one-third of the country is without electricity or running water due to collapsed power lines and flooded purification facilities. Internet services have also suffered widespread outages.
Deadliest Disaster Since 2017
Cyclone Ditwah now stands as Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when floods and landslides took more than 200 lives.
The country’s worst flooding this century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people were killed.
As rescue efforts continue and the threat of further rainfall looms, Sri Lanka faces a long road toward recovery from one of the most destructive storms in its recent history.