At least 159 people have died in Sri Lanka flood triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, with more than 200 missing as rescue teams race against landslides and rising waters. Authorities declare a state of emergency and appeal for international aid.
Escalating Crisis in Sri Lanka Flood
Torrential rains lashed Sri Lanka since last week. Cyclone Ditwah brushed the eastern coast on Friday. The storm unleashed floods and landslides across central and western regions. By 4:35 PM on Monday, August 25, 2025, the death toll reached 159. Over 200 people remain missing. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed these figures in its latest update.
The floods hit hardest in Kandy and Badulla districts. Landslides buried villages. In Kurunegala, floodwaters submerged an elderly care home on Saturday afternoon. Eleven residents drowned there. In Anuradhapura, a bus plunged into swollen waters. Navy divers rescued 69 passengers from the roof. The Kelani River surged near Colombo, forcing evacuations.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency. This move speeds up rescue operations. Armed forces deployed helicopters and boats. Over 108,000 people fled to 800 temporary shelters. Nearly 20,000 homes lie in ruins. A third of the country lacks electricity and clean water. Roads stay blocked by debris.
DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda addressed reporters in Colombo. “Relief operations with the help of the armed forces are under way,” he said. “We have moved 108,000 people to welfare centres after their homes were destroyed in the heavy rains.”
Cyclone Ditwah Sri Lanka Death Toll Climbs Amid Monsoon Fury
Cyclone Ditwah formed mid-week. It dumped record rainfall on the island nation. Winds gusted up to 100 km/h. The system weakened after landfall but triggered chaos. Flood levels now exceed the 2016 disaster, when 71 died.
The Cyclone Ditwah Sri Lanka death toll rose steadily. It stood at 69 on Thursday. By Friday, it hit 123 with 130 missing. Saturday brought 153 dead and 191 unaccounted for. Latest reports confirm 159 fatalities. Officials fear more bodies under mudslides.
Kandy reported the highest losses. Landslides there killed dozens overnight. Badulla’s Maspanna village saw two deaths. Survivors huddle in temples. Saman Kumara spoke from the isolated area. “We lost two people in our village,” he told the News Center website by telephone. “Others are sheltering in a temple and a house that is still standing. We cannot leave the village, and no one can come in because all roads are blocked by landslides. There is no food, and we are running out of clean water.”
In Kurunegala, the care home tragedy unfolded fast. Water rose two metres in minutes. Relatives waited outside as rescuers pulled bodies. WM Shantha, a bus passenger in Anuradhapura, described the ordeal. “We were very lucky,” she said via AFP news agency. “While we were on the roof, part of it collapsed. Three women fell into the water, but they were helped back onto the roof.”
The disaster affected 500,000 people. Half the districts saw deaths. Rail lines halted. Highways closed. Telecom blackouts stranded families. Tourists in Colombo reported power cuts lasting days.
Sri Lanka Flood Missing Persons: Searches Intensify
Rescue teams comb remote hills. The Sri Lanka flood missing persons count tops 200. Many vanished in landslides. Others swept away by rivers. DMC logs 203 unaccounted as of Sunday evening.
In Badulla, search dogs sniff rubble. Helicopters airlift supplies to cut-off zones. Navy units focus on the Kelani basin. Evacuation orders cover riverbanks. Low-lying Colombo suburbs like Wellampitiya stand knee-deep in muck. Local officials warn of rising tolls. “The main problem is that we still have not been able to reach some areas in the district that have reported landslides,” said Prabath Abeywardena, a district officer. Teams use drones to map damage. Satellite images show 15,000 homes destroyed.
Villagers in Maspanna wait for aid. Kumara’s group rations meagre stocks. Clean water runs low. Children face disease risks in humid conditions. Medical camps treat injuries and dehydration. The missing include farmers and tea pickers. Central highlands bore the brunt. Monsoon patterns worsened the storm. Climate experts link fiercer cyclones to warming oceans.
Sri Lanka Flood Relief Aid: International Response Builds
Sri Lanka flood relief aid pours in. The government appealed for help Saturday. India led the charge under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Two aircraft delivered 21 tonnes of supplies by noon. An Indian warship in Colombo donated rations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted condolences on X. “My heartfelt condolences to the people of Sri Lanka who have lost their loved ones due to Cyclone Ditwah,” he wrote. “I pray for the safety, comfort and swift recovery of all affected families. In solidarity with our closest maritime neighbour, India has urgently dispatched relief.”
Eighty National Disaster Response Force personnel joined searches. Two Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant scanned hills. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed more aid en route. The Sri Lanka Red Cross mobilised. Secretary-General Mahesh Gunasekara noted stranded groups. “Many people have been stranded in various flood-hit areas as rescue crews are trying to reach them,” he said.
Local drives urge diaspora donations. Funds target food and shelter. Armed forces distribute kits. Welfare centres house 108,000. Schools doubled as hubs. Volunteers cook meals amid shortages. The UN office in Colombo pledged support. Power restoration crews work round the clock. Ceylon Electricity Board aims to reconnect 25% of customers by Tuesday.
Background: A Nation Prone to Monsoon Mayhem
Sri Lanka faces yearly floods. The 2016 event killed 71. Last year’s June rains claimed 26 lives. December added 17. This week’s toll dwarfs them. Cyclone Ditwah marks the worst since 2003.
The island’s terrain aids disasters. Central hills funnel rains to coasts. Tea estates turn to mud. Poverty hampers preparedness. Economic woes from 2022 linger. Families rebuild on borrowed time. Global warming amplifies threats. Warmer seas fuel stronger storms. Southeast Asia reels too. Indonesia and Malaysia report parallel floods. Regional cooperation grows vital.
What’s Next: Recovery Amid Lingering Rains
Authorities plan reconstruction. Emergency powers allocate funds. Northern showers persist. Floods may linger in basins. Rescue ops target 72 hours. International pledges mount. EU and US eye contributions. Local elections pause for unity. Communities vow resilience. The Sri Lanka floods test national resolve once more.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 30th, 2025
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