Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka: 123 Dead, 130 Missing; Nationwide Emergency Declared

Colombo: Cyclone Ditwah has unleashed massive destruction across Sri Lanka, leaving at least 123 people dead and around 130 still missing, according to government officials on Saturday. The toll is expected to rise as rescue teams have not yet been able to reach several devastated regions.

The cyclone-triggered flash floods and landslides have displaced more than 44,000 people, who have now been shifted to temporary shelters set up across the country. Sri Lanka has been grappling with severe weather for over a week, but conditions deteriorated dramatically on Thursday and Friday as Ditwah intensified, inundating residential regions and triggering landslides in hill districts.

Officials estimate property damage worth billions of rupees, with many homes, roads, bridges, and public facilities severely impacted.

Cyclone Heads Toward India After Ravaging Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan Meteorological Department confirmed that on Saturday, Cyclone Ditwah moved out of Sri Lanka and began advancing towards the north-northwest, with an expected landfall near northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on the morning of 30 November.
Despite the cyclone’s movement toward the Indian coastline, meteorological authorities warn that heavy rainfall and strong winds will continue to affect Sri Lanka for some time.

Nationwide Emergency Declared

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency across the country in response to the massive destruction. The decision came after an all-party meeting held on Friday, during which opposition leaders strongly recommended immediate emergency measures.

The emergency declaration is expected to accelerate coordination among various agencies and strengthen relief and rescue operations across affected regions.

Rescue Operations Intensify Despite Staff Shortages

Authorities reported a shortage of personnel to manage the crisis, leading to the rapid deployment of military forces, police, healthcare workers, civil administrators, and the Civil Security Force to support evacuation and relief missions.
Sri Lanka’s Army has been actively assisting rescue teams in evacuating stranded residents from flood-hit and landslide-prone areas.

Director-General of the Meteorology Department, Athula Karunanayake, stated that although Cyclone Ditwah is heading toward the Indian coast, its after-effects—including rainfall and strong winds—will persist in several regions of Sri Lanka.