November 30, 2025, 2:12 p.mNovember 30, 2025, 2:12 p.m
After a severe storm in Sri Lanka, the number of deaths has continued to rise, according to civil protection officials. Accordingly, at least 193 people have died as a result of the floods and landslides, and 228 are still missing. The torrential rain was triggered by cyclone “Ditwah”.
A cyclone caused devastating damage in Sri Lanka.Image: keystone
Most of the fatalities come from the central districts of Kandy and Badulla. More than a million people had to leave their homes. New landslides were also reported in the central highlands on Sunday. A water reservoir also burst in a village in the northeast of the country.
On Saturday, “Ditwah” left Sri Lanka for southern India, and the rains have been easing since then. However, many low-lying areas, including near the capital Colombo, remain under water. Landslides continue to occur in regions where there has been particularly heavy rain.
Search and rescue teams – supported by emergency services from India – evacuate those affected from the flooded areas by plane, distribute relief supplies and search for those buried. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has imposed emergency regulations. More than 5,000 houses have been completely or partially destroyed. Roads, bridges and power lines are damaged. (dab/sda/dpa)