Sri Lanka is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis as a relentless ten-day spell of heavy rain has triggered deadly landslides and widespread flooding across the island nation. The official death toll has tragically climbed to 47, with at least 21 people still reported missing, according to the country's Disaster Management Center (DMC).
The inclement weather, fueled by a persistent low-pressure system, has severely impacted over 5,893 people across 17 districts since the weather began escalating around November 17. An alarming 37 fatalities were reported in just the last two days alone, underscoring the rapid escalation of the disaster.
Mountainous Regions Hardest Hit
The mountainous, tea-growing central districts have borne the brunt of the devastation. Most of the deaths have been recorded in the Badulla and Nuwara Eliya districts, where steep slopes have collapsed onto homes. Authorities reported that several people were buried alive as mountain slopes gave way overnight.
The eastern district of Batticaloa has also been battered, receiving exceptionally high rainfall, exceeding 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) in a single period.
Emergency Response and Warnings
In response to the escalating crisis, authorities have:
- Suspended rail services and closed major roads in affected regions due to debris, mud, and fallen trees on the tracks.
- Issued Red-Alert Landslide Warnings for eight high-risk districts, urging residents in vulnerable hillside communities to prepare for immediate evacuation.
- Suspended nationwide school examinations for two days to prioritize safety and facilitate the response effort.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a directive to all Members of Parliament, calling them to return to their districts immediately to ramp up relief efforts and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential health and welfare services to those displaced.
The DMC has warned that major river levels, including the Mahaweli River, are rising rapidly, urging people in low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground. Rescue teams are continuing their operations in the hardest-hit areas as the island prepares for potentially more severe weather in the coming days.
