Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Saturday and called for international help as the death toll from floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 153, with another 191 people missing.
The extreme weather system has destroyed more than 20,000 homes, sending 108,000 people to temporary state-run shelters, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) reported.
Another 798,000 people needed assistance after being temporarily displaced by floods, DMC spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invoked emergency powers, giving him broad authority to manage the fallout from the devastation caused by a week of torrential rains across the island.
Kodippili confirmed that 153 people had died.
They included 11 residents of a nursing home that flooded in the north central district of Kurunegala on Saturday afternoon, police said.
Army, navy and air force troops along with civilian workers and volunteers have been deployed to assist in relief efforts.
The Army on Saturday rescued 69 bus passengers, including a German tourist, who were stranded in Anuradhapura district after a 24-hour operation.
One of the passengers, speaking from the hospital, described how Navy sailors helped them onto the roof of a nearby house after using ropes to guide them safely through the flood waters.
“We were very lucky… while we were on the roof, a part of it collapsed… three women fell into the water, but they were helped back up to the roof,” said WM Shantha.
A helicopter had to abort a first rescue attempt because the downdraft from its rotors threatened to blow off the roof they were on. They were later rescued by naval vessels.
Roads in the central Badulla district remained inaccessible, leaving many villages isolated and relief supplies unable to reach.
“We lost two people in our village… others are taking shelter in a temple and a house that is still standing,” said Saman Kumara from Badulla village of Maspanna, one of the worst-affected districts.
“We cannot leave the village and no one can enter because all the roads are blocked by landslides. There is no food and we are running out of drinking water,” he told the News Center website by phone.
No clean water
Officials said about a third of the country was without electricity or running water because power lines had collapsed and water purification facilities were flooded. Internet connections were also disrupted.
Cyclone Ditwah moved away from the island on Saturday and was heading towards neighboring India.
India’s Chennai airport canceled 54 flights due to the approach of the cyclone, and the meteorological department forecast extremely heavy rain and strong winds for the next 48 hours.
The Sri Lankan government has appealed for international aid and urged Sri Lankans abroad to make cash donations to support affected communities.
India was the first to respond, sending two planes loaded with relief supplies and two transport helicopters, along with a 22-person rescue team.
An Indian warship, already in Colombo on a previously planned goodwill visit, donated its rations to help the victims.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the loss of life in Sri Lanka and said New Delhi was willing to send more aid.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was ready to provide “any support in the rescue, recovery and relief efforts as a symbol of our solidarity with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters.”
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and government of Sri Lanka in this time of grief,” he said.
Pakistan Navy delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo.
“This swift support underscores Pakistan Navy’s commitment to international obligations, regional stability and solidarity with friendly nations in their hour of need,” he said.
Flooding in low-lying areas worsened on Saturday, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for residents living along the banks of the Kelani River, which flows into the Indian Ocean from Colombo.
While the rains had eased in most parts of the country, including the capital, the north of the island was still experiencing rain.
The cyclone has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when floods and landslides claimed more than 200 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The worst flood since the beginning of the century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people died.
