‘Neighbourhoods buried under mud’: Sri Lanka floods death toll nears 200

Authorities in Sri Lanka are still dealing with rising floodwaters in parts of the capital after a devastating cyclone left a trail of destruction, with at least 193 confirmed dead.

More than 220 people are still missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), adding that more than 220 of them are expected to be affected by Cyclone Ditwah’s continued heavy rains.

Five Navy personnel were last seen attempting to shut off overflowing water at a Naval sub-station in Chalai Lagoon, northeast of Sri Lanka, according to a report from the Daily Mirror newspaper on Sunday.

The DMC claims that the country’s nearly 15, 000 homes have been destroyed by the extreme weather system, sending almost 44, 000 people to state-run temporary shelters.

According to Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez, who was based in Sammanthurai in eastern Sri Lanka, the nation is dealing with the storm’s aftermath.

She said, “Some neighborhoods are completely submerged in mud, and each one brings more desperation.” There are also areas where communication has been hampered, and some areas have not yet sent updates.

In other locations, Fernandez noted, newly planted rice was submerged in water as a result of persistent rain.

According to DMC, the Kelani River’s water level was rising, making Colombo’s northern region also vulnerable to a significant flood.

A DMC official stated that while the cyclone has left, heavy rains upstream are currently dredging low-lying areas along the Kelani River.

In response to the cyclone’s aftermath, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday and called for international assistance.

India was the first country to intervene, sending two helicopters and relief supplies to rescue missions. Japan pledged further assistance and said it would send a team to assess immediate needs.

The DMC reported that while the island’s rainfall has subsided, several roads in the worst-affected central province have remained inaccessible.

More than 20 000 homes have been destroyed by the extreme weather system, and 122 000 have been placed in temporary housing with the government. After the floods caused the displacement of another 833, 000 people, they needed assistance.

The relief effort has included the participation of civilian workers and volunteers from the army, navy, and air force.

According to officials, about a third of the nation’s power lines and drewn water purification facilities, leaving no electricity or running water. Additionally, internet connections have been hampered.

Since 2017, when more than 200 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as a result of flooding and landslides, the cyclone has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster.