According to the DMC, the northern area of Colombo was experiencing significant flooding due to the rising water level in the Kelani River.
At least 159 individuals have been confirmed deceased throughout Sri Lanka as officials persist in combating increasing floodwaters in areas of the capital following a devastating cyclone that caused extensive damage.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) announced on Sunday that additional heavy rainfall from Cyclone Ditwah is anticipated across the island nation in the upcoming days, with over 200 individuals still unaccounted for.
Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror on sunday stated that among the missing individuals were five Navy members who were last observed attempting to stop excess water at a Naval sub-station in Chalai Lagoon, located in the northeast region of the country.
The severe weather system has damaged close to 15,000 homes nationwide, forcing nearly 44,000 individuals into state-operated temporary housing, as reported by the DMC.
Minelle Fernandez of Al Jazeera, reporting from Sammanthurai in eastern central Sri Lanka, stated that the nation is finding it difficult to deal with the consequences of the cyclone.
“Certain neighborhoods are entirely engulfed in mud, and each one adds to the despair,” she remarked. “Communication has also collapsed, and certain regions have not yet provided updates.”
In different regions, Fernandez mentioned that newly sown rice was flooded because of persistent rainfall.
According to the DMC, the northern area of Colombo was experiencing significant flooding due to the rising water level in the Kelani River.
“A DMC official stated that even though the cyclone has passed, significant rainfall upstream is currently inundating the low-lying regions by the Kelani River.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on saturday announced a state of emergency to address the cyclone’s aftermath and sought international assistance.
