At least 334 individuals have lost their lives due to flooding caused by Cyclone Ditorah in Sri Lanka this week, while nearly 400 people remain missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre’s report on Sunday.
Authorities confirmed that around 148,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes and have sought refuge in temporary shelters, amid extensive damage across various regions of the country.
Reports indicate that the number of affected individuals throughout the island has surpassed one million, as water engulfed entire villages and cities, especially in the north of the capital and some central areas, where floods submerged streets and neighborhoods.
In the capital, Colombo, large areas remain submerged following the overflow of a local river, complicating the delivery of aid to several regions.
The Sri Lankan Meteorological Department stated that, despite the cessation of major rainfall, some areas still face the threat of further precipitation, which could worsen the situation and increase the risk of new floods, especially in regions that have yet to be accessed.
Cyclone Ditorah is the deadliest natural disaster to strike Sri Lanka since 2017, when floods and landslides claimed the lives of hundreds.
