Over 330 dead, 200 missing as Cyclone Ditwah triggers severe floods and landslides in Sri Lanka, displacing 108,000 people and cutting off key districts.
Nepal Verified News
Mon Dec 01 2025
Sri Lanka faces a major crisis as floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have killed over 330 people, with more than 200 missing. About 20,000 homes were destroyed, forcing 108,000 residents into temporary shelters, the Disaster Management Centre reported.
Kandy and Badulla districts are hardest hit, with many villages cut off by landslides. Survivors describe homes buried under mud and boulders, and an elderly care home in Kurunegala suffered flooding, claiming 11 lives.
Nearly a third of the country is without electricity or clean water, prompting a state of emergency. Rescue operations involved navy and local authorities, saving stranded residents from rooftops.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called it the "most challenging natural disaster" in Sri Lanka’s history and warned of massive reconstruction costs. The government has appealed for international aid and urged Sri Lankans abroad to contribute.
Severe monsoon rains, combined with Cyclone Ditwah, have made this one of the deadliest weather events in recent years, as Southeast Asia also faces widespread flooding.
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