On 30 November 2025, Sri Lankan authorities reported that the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has risen to 212, with 218 people still missing.
Nearly one million people across the island have been affected by the cyclone’s heavy rains, flooding and landslides, the government’s disaster-management agency said.
As floodwaters surged, nearly 200,000 people were forced to evacuate, ending up in 1,275 emergency shelters set up nationwide for internally displaced families.
Rescue operations remain underway: over 24,000 personnel from the police, army and air force are involved, working to reach families trapped by floodwaters, especially after the breach of the dam on the Mavil Aru Reservoir, which led to emergency air-lifts and evacuations of many vulnerable residents.
Meanwhile, large swathes of the country, including suburbs of the capital Colombo, remain submerged. Thousands wait in temporary shelters, having lost homes and access to basic services like power, clean water and communication. Many survivors report that they were rescued only after days with minimal food and basic essentials.
Officials say floodwaters are expected to slowly recede over the next few days, while restoration of power, water and communications is underway — but the scale of destruction and humanitarian needs already stands among the worst in recent memory.
Also Read | Cyclone Ditwah Weakens After Skirting Sri Lanka, Heads Parallel to Tamil Nadu Coast
