Emergency declared in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah leaves at least 355 dead and 366 missing

At least 355 people have been confirmed dead, and 366 remain missing after Tropical Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka, unleashing days of intense rainfall that produced some of the worst flooding and landslides the country has experienced in years.

Seventy-one deaths and 53 missing were reported in Badulla District; 66 deaths and 105 missing in Kandy District; 20 deaths and 10 missing in Matale District; 19 deaths and 37 missing in Kurunegala District; 8 deaths in Ampara District; 6 deaths and 4 missing in Nuwara Eliya District; and 144 deaths and 161 missing in unspecified locations.

Sri Lanka has declared a State of Emergency and deployed over 25 000 personnel for relief efforts.

Officials report that the impact extends across nearly all administrative districts, affecting close to one million people. Around 200 000 people were reportedly in state-run shelters after the storm destroyed more than 20 000 homes across the island.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said it is the “most challenging natural disaster” in the country’s history and that the destruction was so severe that reconstruction estimates were staggering.

A rain-related incident caused by Ditwah claimed at least 3 lives in Tamil Nadu, India. Two people were killed when walls collapsed in Thoothukudi and Thanjavur, while a 20-year-old died from electrocution in Mayiladuthurai.

A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter crashed in Wennappuwa during relief operations, killing the pilot and injuring four others.

Meanwhile, a landslide in Gangoda village buried 20 people. Three people were killed in Sainthamaruthu, Ampara District, after their car was swept away by floodwaters.

Colombo, Gampaha, and Puttalam, three of the island’s most populated western districts, experienced widespread urban flooding as rivers overtopped, forcing families to evacuate to schools, community centers, and temporary shelters. Tens of thousands of residents were displaced in Colombo District alone after floodwaters entered tightly packed neighborhoods along riverbanks and low-lying streets.

Cyclone Ditwah also disrupted essential services across wide areas. Power failures were reported in multiple districts, while several water-supply stations were affected by floodwaters.

Hospitals in flooded areas were forced to reroute emergency cases and operate with reduced capacity, while health authorities warned of increased risks of waterborne diseases in crowded temporary shelters.

Although weather conditions have improved, authorities warn that the number of missing people may change as rescue teams reach isolated communities. Many areas impacted by landslides remain unstable, and officials have restricted access until geotechnical assessments confirm that the slopes are safe.

Emergency teams continue to focus on restoring road access, clearing debris from residential areas, and re-establishing communication links in isolated regions.

References:

¹ Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after floods and mudslides – BBC – December 1, 2025

² Death toll hits 212 as Sri Lanka struggles with Cyclone Ditwah impact –Reuters – December 1, 2025

³ Death toll passes 1,100 in devastating floods across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand – as it happened – The Guardian – December 1, 2025

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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