Death Toll Surpasses 900 as Cyclone-Triggered floods Devastate South Asia
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – The combined death toll from severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka has exceeded 900, with hundreds more missing as the aftermath of a powerful cyclone continues to unfold. Sri Lanka is bearing the brunt of the disaster, with the most recent reports indicating hundreds of fatalities and nearly 148,000 people displaced.
The extreme weather event, fueled by cyclone Ditwah which developed in the sea east of Sri Lanka, has triggered widespread devastation across the region. While Sri Lanka grapples with the immediate crisis, authorities warn the cyclone is likely to move toward IndiaS southern coast. The scale of the damage is becoming increasingly clear as relief workers struggle to reach isolated communities cut off by fallen trees and mudslides.
In Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, low-lying areas were flooded after heavy rains triggered mudslides across the island. Officials say the extent of the damage in the worst-affected central region was only just being revealed. Selvi, 46, a resident of a Colombo suburb, was forced to leave her flooded home on Sunday, carrying four bags of clothes and valuables. “My house is fully flooded. I don’t know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter where I can take my family,” she told Agence France-Presse.
The town of Manampitiya, 155 miles north-east of Colombo, revealed massive destruction as water levels receded. “Manampitiya is a flood-prone town, but I have never seen such a volume of water,” said S Sivanandan, 72, a local resident. He reported extensive damage to businesses and property, including a car flipped upside down in front of his shop.
In central Wellawaya,a resident described hearing a loud noise and witnessing boulders rolling down a mountainside,stopping near her home. ”I saw trees falling and moving with the boulders. We are afraid to go back to our homes,” she told reporters after seeking shelter.
Cyclone Ditwah is now projected to move toward India’s southern coast, raising concerns of further disruption and potential damage.
With reporting from Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
