The death toll resulting from severe floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has climbed to 132, while 176 individuals are still unaccounted for, as per authorities’ reports on Saturday.
Around 78,000 individuals have been forced out of their homes and are currently housed in temporary shelters, according to the disaster management center in the South Asian nation.
There is anticipation of a further increase in the death toll. Recent social media updates on Saturday exhibited numerous regions impacted by mudslides overnight that rescue teams have yet to access.
Sri Lanka has been grappling with harsh weather conditions since the previous week. The situation exacerbated on Thursday due to intense rainfall, leading to flooding of residences, agricultural lands, and roads, as well as triggering landslides primarily in the central hilly regions famous for tea cultivation.
The authorities took the decision to close educational institutions, government offices, and defer examinations in response.
The majority of reservoirs and waterways have surpassed their capacity, resulting in blocked thoroughfares. Passenger train services were halted, and roads were shut down in numerous areas following the obstruction caused by rocks, mud, and fallen trees on the roadways and railway lines.
By Friday, water from severely affected zones started flooding areas around Colombo, the capital, even though Colombo had received relatively less rainfall.
Official reports indicate that Cyclone Ditwah, which originated in the seas to the east of Sri Lanka, is expected to head towards the southern coast of India by Sunday.
India, the neighboring country, dispatched two search-and-rescue teams, comprising 80 members, and provided aid to bolster the ongoing relief efforts, as confirmed by the Indian embassy in Colombo on Saturday.
