A group of 68 people waited for rescue for hours on the roof of a bus after a river burst its banks in Badulla district, demonstrating the serious logistical and mobility constraints Sri Lanka faces after the passage of Cyclone Ditoa. This rescue operation, which was successfully completed overnight, illustrates the immediate challenges posed by the disaster, the dimensions of which translate into the death of 123 people and a worsening humanitarian crisis with a rise in the number of missing and displaced persons, according to the official agency, citing several media outlets.
The climate emergency, exacerbated by this weather phenomenon, prompted the authorities to declare a state of health emergency throughout the country. According to official data published by local media, more than 350,000 people were directly affected by floods and landslides, while at least 130 residents are still missing. The number of destroyed homes exceeds 100,000, forcing thousands of families to search for temporary shelter and causing mass displacement in various governorates.
Kandy Province stands out among the most affected areas, with 51 deaths and 67 people still missing. In addition to the mass rescue operation, Badula recorded 35 dead and 27 missing, according to information collected by the local press. Other affected areas include Kigali, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Ambara regions, where dozens of deaths and reports of missing persons were reported, according to what was revealed by the official agency. The destruction of homes and entire communities has increased pressure on temporary shelters, with health officials reporting overcrowded conditions and lack of drinking water, factors that could lead to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The impact on infrastructure is also a major obstacle to humanitarian access and distribution. According to state media, major railway lines are submerged and train traffic has been suspended indefinitely, making it difficult to transport first responders and vital materials and supplies. Various rural roads and bridges in the central and eastern regions were severely damaged, isolating many communities and delaying search and relief efforts.
The Ministry of Health, in response to the saturation of hospitals and the increasing demand for medical care for injuries, infectious diseases and problems resulting from the consumption of contaminated water, ordered the continuation of the health emergency until at least December 4, according to the official source. Supplies of medical supplies are limited, especially in remote areas, where access remains restricted due to destroyed roads and interruptions to basic services such as electricity and drinking water.
The country’s response is centrally coordinated under the supervision of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who operates from the military air base. The Head of State issued a decree giving absolute priority to the mobilization of medicines, essential materials and humanitarian aid to the areas most affected by Cyclone Ditoa, with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population.
The rescue and assistance operation includes the army, civilians, and volunteer organizations, which are working to recover survivors, establish temporary shelter centers, and gradually reactivate basic services, according to the local press. Shelters set up in the most affected provinces are dealing with problems of overcrowding and lack of supplies, while health and civil protection authorities implement permanent health surveillance to detect and combat potential public health emergencies.
Unfavorable weather conditions continue. According to reports collected by the media, Cyclone Ditwah is already heading towards India, but it is maintaining rainfall and accompanying winds over large areas of Sri Lanka. Forecasts indicate the possibility of heavy rain in the coming days, an element that may increase the risk of new landslides and complicate the progress of search and assistance efforts for those who remain isolated.
The delivery of food rations, water and medicines remains an urgent priority, while specialized teams assess the safety of vital infrastructure and the risk of new collapses amid uncertainty about the true scale of the disaster. Missing persons continue to be monitored through ongoing operations in the most affected areas, where emergency personnel and authorities work in difficult-to-access conditions and limited resources.
Emergency monitoring involves cooperation between governmental and non-governmental agencies in meteorological monitoring tasks, casualty counts, and support for basic reconstruction initiatives. The health authorities announced that the number of wounded and sick people exceeded the capacity of hospital centers, especially as destruction and road flooding complicated the process of transporting those affected and the arrival of medical materials.
According to the official source reported by various media outlets, efforts focused on protecting the displaced population and restoring basic services will remain in effect, while the total number of victims and the extent of damage continue to be assessed by teams present in critical areas. Search, rescue and relief missions are carried out under constant surveillance, in the context of continued meteorological instability and high health risks for entire communities.