Death toll from Sri Lanka’s floods and landslides rises to 334

November 30, 2025 / 8:24 PM

A youth carries an elderly man as they wade through a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Wellampitiya on the outskirts of Colombo

Sharjah 24 – AFP: The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose sharply to 334 on Sunday, according to Sri Lanka's disaster agency, with hundreds still missing. It is the country’s worst natural disaster in two decades, and authorities say the true extent of damage in the central region is only becoming clear as workers clear blocked roads.

Scale of the disaster

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that nearly 400 people remain missing and more than 1.3 million residents have been affected by the record rains. Officials say the destruction is the worst since the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed about 31,000 people.

Ongoing flooding and relief efforts

Although rains have eased, low-lying areas of Colombo remained underwater on Sunday, prompting preparations for a major relief effort. A Bell 212 helicopter delivering food to stranded hospital patients crashed into a river north of Colombo, though all five crew members were rescued. Another Indian helicopter rescued 24 people in the central town of Kotmale, while Pakistan and Japan also announced rescue support and assistance.

Rescues across the island

The Sri Lankan Air Force reported rescuing infants and a 10-year-old child from a flooded hospital in the northern town of Chilaw. Authorities say floodwaters in the capital will take at least a day to recede, while dry weather is forecast as Cyclone Ditwah continues moving toward India.

Stories from affected communities

Residents described scenes of devastation. Selvi, 46, from Wennawatte, left her flooded home carrying only a few bags of belongings. In Manampitiya, receding waters revealed overturned cars and widespread property damage. A woman in Wellawaya recounted hearing boulders rolling down a mountainside, forcing her family to flee to safer ground.

Continued risk and national response

The National Blood Transfusion Service warned of low blood supplies, while the National Building Research Organisation said saturated slopes pose a high risk of further landslides. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international aid.

Deadliest flooding in years

The last major flood disaster occurred in June 2003, when 254 people lost their lives. Officials fear the toll from Cyclone Ditwah could still rise as search and rescue operations continue.