COLOMBO: Cyclone Ditwah swept northward across Sri Lanka on Friday, leaving 46 people dead and 23 missing amid widespread floods, with torrential rain and strong winds expected to cause more flooding in the next 12 hours.
Most deaths were caused by landslides triggered by more than 300mm (12 inches) of rainfall in the eastern and central regions, according to officials.
Nearly 44,000 people were affected nationwide, and many sought refuge in schools and public shelters, according to the Disaster Management Centre.
Floods across other parts of Asia have claimed over 270 lives, with authorities working to rescue stranded citizens, restore power and communications and coordinate recovery efforts.
Large parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been stricken by cyclone-fuelled torrential rain for a week, with a rare tropical storm forming in the Malacca Strait.
Over 270 killed as floods ravage south-east Asia
Sri Lanka’s irrigation department said it expected the floods that have already affected countless areas across the south and east, including many parts of the capital, Colombo, to spread even further.
The Colombo Stock Exchange halted trading early, and schools and train services remained suspended. Military and police coordinated evacuations, including the airlifting of 13 people trapped on a bridge in Polonnaruwa, 220 km northeast of Colombo, the air force said.
Numerous families trapped on rooftops and one man stranded on top of a coconut tree were also airlifted to safety, air force footage released to the media showed.
Floods in Indonesia
Flooding and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island have killed 84 people this week and dozens more are missing.
Indonesia, along with neighbouring Malaysia and Thailand, has been hit by severe rains that have caused dozens of deaths across the region in recent days.
In North Sumatra, “as of this morning, the number of fatalities is 62, with 95 people injured, both serious and minor injuries”, said police spokesman Ferry Walintukan.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2025