WEB DESK: A cyclone swept through Sri Lanka on Friday, resulting in 46 fatalities and leaving 23 individuals missing, according to officials. The weather department cautioned that the storm might strengthen as it continues to move across the island during the next 12 hours.
The majority of the deaths were linked to landslides caused by relentless rainfall exceeding 300 mm (11.8 inches) over the past day. Cyclone Ditwah’s impact was most severe in the eastern and central regions of the country.
Across the nation, 43,991 people were relocated to schools and other public shelters, as per a statement from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). This included families stranded on rooftops due to rising water levels.
In response to the ongoing crisis, schools were closed, train services suspended, and trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange ended early, as heavy rains persisted.
Efforts to assist affected communities are ongoing, though accessibility remains a significant challenge. “Rescue operations are still underway in the worst-hit areas, but reaching some villages is proving difficult due to roads being blocked by landslides. We are doing everything we can to ensure people’s safety,” said Brigadier S. Dharmawickrema, Emergency Operations Director at the DMC.
The possibility of rerouting flights from Colombo’s main airport to Trivandrum or Cochin airports in southern India is being considered if weather conditions deteriorate further, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake shared with reporters.
Local media also noted that six flights, including those from Muscat, Dubai, New Delhi, and Bangkok, had already been redirected from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) due to adverse weather conditions.
