Sri Lanka reels from catastrophic floods: 1.6 million affected, 479 dead, 44,000 homes damaged, and 350 still missing.

Sri Lanka is grappling with one of its worst natural disasters in decades after Cyclone Ditwah unleashed torrential rains, floods, and landslides across the island, leaving a trail of destruction that has affected more than 1.6 million people nationwide. Official figures confirm 479 deaths, while search operations continue for at least 350 missing persons amid devastated communities and treacherous terrain.

The Ministry of Disaster Management reported that 44,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, displacing tens of thousands of families. Emergency shelters across the country are overwhelmed, with more than 180,000 people seeking refuge in government-run centres. Rescue teams, supported by the military and international aid agencies, are working around the clock to reach isolated villages cut off by floodwaters and landslides.

Worst flooding in decades

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on November 28, triggering widespread flooding across all 25 districts. The hardest-hit areas include Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa, while deadly landslides devastated the central hill country districts of Kandy, Badulla, and Matale.

Infrastructure damage has been severe: over 200 roads remain impassable, at least 10 bridges have collapsed, and sections of the rail network and national power grid are crippled. Flooding along the Kelani River, which runs through Colombo, continues to hamper relief operations, while northern districts such as Jaffna report entire villages isolated without electricity or clean water.

Humanitarian crisis unfolding

Sri Lanka’s fragile health system is under immense strain. Several district hospitals remain inundated, forcing the evacuation of critically ill patients by air. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of heightened risks of vector-borne and water-borne diseases, urging communities to safeguard food and drinking water supplies.

Authorities also fear looming food insecurity, as submerged farmland, damaged storage facilities, and severed supply routes threaten shortages and price spikes in the coming weeks. Relief agencies are prioritising the distribution of clean water, medical supplies, and emergency rations, but access remains a challenge in many districts.

Global response and recovery

International organisations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), are coordinating with Sri Lankan authorities to mobilise aid. Neighbouring countries have pledged assistance, while humanitarian groups are deploying rapid response teams to support search and rescue operations.

The government has declared a national emergency, calling for solidarity and resilience as recovery efforts begin. Officials warn that rebuilding will take months, if not years, given the scale of destruction to homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

Outlook

As Sri Lanka mourns its dead and searches for the missing, the disaster underscores the island’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of cyclones in South Asia, experts stress the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and community-based early warning systems.

For now, the nation’s focus remains on saving lives, restoring essential services, and providing relief to the millions whose lives have been upended by this unprecedented catastrophe.