Cyclone Ditwah Claims Dozens of Lives in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Cyclone Ditwah has caused widespread devastation in Sri Lanka, resulting in at least 46 fatalities and leaving 23 individuals unaccounted for, according to official statements released on Friday. Rescue teams are engaged in a race against time to reach affected communities as meteorological warnings indicate the storm may gain strength over the next 12 hours.

The cyclone’s impact has been most severe in the country’s eastern and central provinces, where relentless rainfall, topping 300 mm (11.8 inches) in a 24-hour period, unleashed deadly landslides. These landslides are reported to be the primary cause of the tragic loss of life.

In response to the crisis, nearly 44,000 people have been relocated to temporary shelters set up in schools and public buildings. The Disaster Management Centre confirmed that rescue operations have included airlifting families trapped on the rooftops of their inundated homes.

The severe weather has led to a near-total shutdown of public services. Schools across the nation are closed, all train services have been suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange halted trading early.

Brigadier S. Dharmawickrema, the Emergency Operations Director at the Disaster Management Centre, acknowledged the challenges faced by rescue teams. “We are continuing operations in the worst-hit areas, but some villages are difficult to reach because roads are blocked by landslides,” he stated, affirming that getting people to safety remains the top priority.

The disruption has extended to air travel, with at least six international flights from destinations including Dubai and New Delhi being diverted from Colombo’s main international airport. Officials have confirmed that if conditions deteriorate further, more flights may be redirected to airports in South India.