The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has surged to 334, marking Sri Lanka's most severe natural disaster in two decades. The Disaster Management Centre confirmed the sharp increase on Sunday, with nearly 400 people still missing and over 1.3 million citizens affected across the island nation.
National Emergency Declared
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency to coordinate disaster response, describing the situation as "the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history." In a national address, the president vowed to rebuild with international support, promising to create "a better nation than what existed before."
This tragedy represents the most significant loss of life and property damage since the devastating 2004 Asian tsunami that claimed approximately 31,000 lives in Sri Lanka and left more than a million homeless.
Rescue Operations and International Aid
Despite subsiding rainfall, relief operations faced significant challenges as workers cleared roads blocked by fallen trees and mudslides. The extent of damage in the worst-affected central region is only now becoming apparent.
A Bell 212 helicopter carrying food supplies for stranded patients crashed into a river north of Colombo on Sunday evening. All five crew members survived and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
International assistance has been mobilized, with India sending rescue helicopters that successfully saved 24 people from the central town of Kotmale. Among those rescued were a pregnant woman and a wheelchair-bound individual. Pakistan has also committed rescue teams, while Japan is sending assessment experts and has pledged additional assistance.
Ground-Level Devastation
Personal accounts from affected residents paint a grim picture of the disaster's impact. Selvi, a 46-year-old resident of Colombo's Wennawatte suburb, described her complete displacement: "My house is completely flooded. I don't know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter where I can take my family."
In Manampitiya, 250 kilometers northeast of Colombo, receding waters revealed massive destruction. 72-year-old S. Sivanandan, a lifelong resident, stated he had never witnessed such volume of water despite the area being flood-prone. He reported extensive damage to businesses and property, including an overturned car in front of his shop.
A woman from central Wellawaya recounted the terrifying experience of hearing loud noises and seeing boulders rolling down mountainsides. "I saw trees falling and moving with the boulders. We are afraid to go back to our homes," she told reporters after relocating to a safer shelter.
Ongoing Risks and Critical Shortages
The National Building Research Organisation has warned of high landslide risks as mountain slopes remain saturated with rainwater. Meanwhile, the National Blood Transfusion Service reported critical shortages despite relatively few injuries.
Authorities anticipate flood levels in the capital will require at least another day to recede, though dry weather forecasts offer some hope. Cyclone Ditwah has since moved northward toward India.
This disaster surpasses the June 2003 flooding that killed 254 people, making it the deadliest natural catastrophe Sri Lanka has faced since the turn of the century.
