Rescuers in Sri Lanka are working to clear roads and deliver aid after Cyclone Ditwah, which killed 355 people. Another 366 remain missing, officials said. The storm caused the worst floods and landslides in a decade, affecting over half a million people across the island.
Cyclone Ditwah struck last Friday with winds exceeding 120 km/h and torrential rain, triggering landslides in central hilly regions. Thousands of homes were flooded, roads were blocked, and residents salvaged belongings along the Kelani river near Colombo. Emergency shelters are housing displaced families.
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Train and flight services have resumed after last week’s disruptions, but schools remain closed as authorities assess the damage. Weather officials warned that while the cyclone is moving north, heavy showers and local flooding could persist in some areas.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called it Sri Lanka’s “largest and most challenging” natural disaster. He stressed the importance of coordinated relief efforts and international assistance to reach the hardest-hit communities. Rescue teams continue searching for missing people.
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The cyclone also affected India’s Tamil Nadu, where three people died in rain-related incidents. The storm, now a deep depression 50 km off Chennai, is expected to weaken further within 12 hours, but authorities urged residents to remain cautious.