Sri Lankan authorities battled rising floodwaters in parts of the capital on Sunday after a powerful cyclone left a trail of destruction and killed at least 159 people across the country.
The northern part of Colombo was facing major flooding as the water level of the Kelani River continued to rise, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.
The death toll reached 159 and another 203 people were missing, the DMC reported, after a week of heavy rain caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which moved away from Sri Lanka on Saturday.
“Though the cyclone has left us, heavy rains upstream are flooding low-lying areas along the banks of the Kelani river,” a DMC official said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday declared a state of emergency to deal with the consequences of the cyclone and called for international help.
India was the first to respond, sending relief supplies and two crewed helicopters to carry out rescue missions.
Japan said it would send a team to assess immediate needs and promised more help.
While rains have eased across the island, several roads in the worst-affected central province remain inaccessible, the DMC said.
The extreme weather system has destroyed more than 20,000 homes and sent 122,000 people to temporary state-run shelters.
Another 833,000 people needed assistance after being displaced by the floods.
Army, navy and air force troops along with civilian workers and volunteers have been deployed to assist in relief efforts.
Authorities reported that about a third of the country remains without electricity or running water due to collapsed power lines and flooding of water purification facilities. Internet connections have also been interrupted.
Pakistan extends humanitarian assistance
On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in coordination with the armed forces, launched a “comprehensive” relief assistance operation for Sri Lanka.
“A 45-member army urban search and rescue team, mobile field hospitals along with boats, life jackets, tents, blankets, infant formula, food packets and medicines will be sent via C-130. [tomorrow] from Noor Khan Air Base to Colombo,” the NDMA said on X shortly after 12 a.m.
“Pakistan will continue to provide support to flood-affected Sri Lanka,” the NDMA said.
Yesterday, Pakistan Navy also delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Sri Lankan authorities at Colombo port.
The aid included “basic foodstuffs, MREs (meals ready to eat), dry rations, first aid kits and medicines, as well as equipment,” the Navy said.
“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.
Expressing his deepest condolences, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to extend “any support in the rescue, recovery and relief efforts as a symbol of our solidarity with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters.”
Cyclone Ditwah has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when floods and landslides claimed more than 200 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The worst flood since the beginning of the century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people died.
