Web Desk (MNN); Cyclone Ditwah tore through Sri Lanka on Friday, triggering widespread flooding that left at least 132 people dead, while dozens remain unaccounted for as torrential rain continues to batter parts of the country. Authorities warn that more flooding is likely over the next 12 hours.
Officials said most deaths occurred due to landslides following over 300mm (12 inches) of rain in eastern and central regions. Nearly 44,000 residents have been affected nationwide, with many now sheltering in schools and public buildings, according to the Disaster Management Centre.
The Irrigation Department warned that floodwater was expected to spread further across southern and eastern Sri Lanka, with several parts of Colombo already submerged.
The Colombo Stock Exchange suspended trading early; schools and trains were also shut down. Rescue teams from the military and police carried out large-scale evacuations, including the airlifting of 13 people trapped on a bridge in Polonnaruwa, the Air Force said.
Footage released to the media showed several families rescued from rooftops and one man flown to safety from the top of a coconut tree. Severe weather also disrupted operations at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, forcing 15 flights to divert to airports in southern India.
India supplied 6.5 metric tons of food to support Sri Lanka’s relief operations as the cyclone moved towards southern India. More than 20,000 military and police personnel have been deployed for evacuations around Colombo, where water levels continue to rise.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is facing even greater devastation. The death toll from cyclone-driven floods and landslides in Sumatra has climbed to 303, up from 174 a day earlier.
The region, along with Malaysia and Thailand, has been hit by week-long torrential rain, intensified by a rare tropical storm in the Malacca Strait. More than 80,000 people have been displaced, while 279 remain missing.
In North Sumatra, collapsed roads and destroyed communication lines have severely hampered rescue efforts. Aid teams are using helicopters to deliver supplies to isolated areas.
Authorities said efforts are underway to reopen access between North Tapanuli and Sibolga, where landslides have blocked routes for three days. Additional military deployment is expected to support rescue work as reports emerge of people breaking into supply stores in Central Tapanuli.
Across the Strait in Thailand, the death toll from flooding in the south has risen to 162, with thousands still affected, officials confirmed.
