01/12/2025
đ đąđ° The World's Most Attractive Destination: Now Battling a Big Disaster đĽ
A big storm called Cyclone Ditwah caused severe flooding and landslides across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. The cyclone hit the land on November 28th before going back out to the sea (Bay of Bengal).
Loss of Life: Sadly, 212 people have died, and 218 people are still missing.
Shelter: Over 180,000 people (from more than 51,000 families) have had to leave their homes. They are now staying in 1,094 safe places set up by the government.
Damage: The initial reports show that over 15,000 houses have been completely destroyed.
Getting around is difficult: more than 200 roads are blocked, and at least 10 bridges are damaged.
Train services and the main electricity supply (power grid) have also been affected in some areas.
đ Worst-Hit Areas
The districts that suffered the most damage are Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa.
Deadly landslides have caused huge damage in the central hill areas, especially in Kandy, Badulla, and Matale.
The flooding along the Kelani River is making things very difficult. Since this river runs through Colombo and low areas nearby, the high water is blocking access and cutting off communication with the affected communities. This is making the rescue and aid work very complicated.
