Sri Lanka Flood Crisis: Heartbreaking Loss 💔🌊

World News

At least 193 people have been confirmed dead across Sri Lanka as authorities continue to battle rising floodwaters in parts of the capital following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwahare. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported on Sunday that more heavy rains, associated with the cyclone, are expected across the island nation in the coming days, and that over 220 people remain missing. Among those missing are five Navy personnel who were last seen attempting to cut off overflowing water at a Naval sub-station in Chalai Lagoon, northeast of the country. The extreme weather system has destroyed nearly 15,000 homes across the country, resulting in the displacement of almost 44,000 people who have sought refuge in state-run temporary shelters, according to the DMC. Reporting from Sammanthurai in east central Sri Lanka, Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez described the ongoing struggle to cope with the aftermath: “Some neighborhoods are completely buried under mud, and each one brings more despair. Communication has also broken down, and there are some areas that have yet to send updates.” In other areas, newly planted rice crops have been submerged due to relentless rainfall. The northern part of Colombo is experiencing a major flood as the water level in the Kelani River continues to rise, as stated by the DMC. “Although the cyclone has passed, heavy rains upstream are now flooding low-lying areas along the banks of the Kelani River,” a DMC official explained. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency.

Saturday, responding to the aftermath of the cyclone, India initiated efforts to provide assistance and appealed for international aid. India was the first nation to respond, dispatching relief supplies and two helicopters with crew to conduct rescue missions. Japan announced it would send a team to assess immediate needs and pledged further support. Several roads in the worst-affected central province remained inaccessible, according to the Department of Metereology (DMC). This cyclone has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when flooding and landslides resulted in over 200 fatalities and displaced hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, severe flooding occurred in June 2003, claiming 254 lives. Internet connections have also been disrupted due to the widespread damage.