BREAKING: Sri Lanka Floods and Landslides Leave At Least 40 Dead, 21 Missing as Cyclone Ditwah Approaches
COLOMBO — At least 40 people are dead and 21 missing after severe floods and landslides tore through Sri Lanka this week, marking one of the country’s worst weather-related disasters in years. Heavy rains triggered massive landslides, including one in the central tea-growing district of Badulla, where 21 residents were killed overnight after their homes were buried, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
Dramatic videos on social media show entire houses being swept away as floodwaters surge through towns. Emergency teams have opened temporary shelters for displaced families as the country faces mounting devastation.
Cyclone Ditwah Intensifies, Threatens More Severe Weather
Sri Lanka is now on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah moves along the island’s eastern coast. Initially forming as a deep depression, Ditwah has strengthened into a cyclone and is expected to make landfall in India, but its outer bands are bringing dangerous rainfall to Sri Lanka.
River levels continue to rise, prompting the DMC to warn residents in low-lying areas to seek higher ground immediately. The Irrigation Department has issued a red-level flood warning for the Kelani River valley, including parts of Colombo, within the next 48 hours.
The Meteorology Department expects over 200 mm of rain in several central and northern regions on Friday.
Transport, Exams, and Daily Life Severely Disrupted
Major roads connecting provinces have been shut down, and train services are heavily impacted. Students preparing for Sri Lanka’s A-level exams have seen their tests postponed due to the extreme conditions.
While Sri Lanka is currently in its monsoon season, meteorologists say such extreme flooding and landslides are rare. The deadliest flooding in recent history occurred in 2003, when 254 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Sri Lanka now faces a critical 48 hours as Cyclone Ditwah intensifies and more severe weather approaches.
