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Sri Lanka’s Death Toll From Cyclone Ditwah Climbs to 193 as Colombo Neighborhoods Flood

Rescue leaders warn that saturated slopes plus blocked roads are slowing operations despite incoming military and foreign assistance.

Overview

  • Authorities report 193 dead and 228 missing after a week of torrential rain and landslides, with northern districts of Colombo inundated and a national disaster declared.
  • About 147,000 people are sheltering in government sites, roughly 25,000 homes are destroyed, and nearly one million residents require aid across affected districts.
  • Evacuations were ordered along the Kelani River; troops used boats and helicopters for rescues, including saving 69 bus passengers in Anuradhapura.
  • International support expanded as India sent relief supplies and four helicopters, Pakistan deployed rescue teams, and Japan dispatched an assessment mission.
  • Across the region, Indonesia reports 442 deaths and Thailand 162, with Malaysia confirming at least two, pushing combined fatalities in Southeast Asia to well over 600.