In one of the biggest weather-related tragedies Sri Lanka has witnessed in recent years, floods and landslides caused by torrential rains wrecked havoc this week, leaving at least 56 dead and 21 missing.
According to a statement from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), a landslide struck residences in the central tea-growing district of Badulla overnight, killing twenty-one persons.
While the majority of train services have been canceled nationwide, videos posted to social media show houses being washed away as floodwaters rush through communities.
As Cyclone Ditwah advances down its eastern coast, Sri Lanka is now preparing for additional severe weather on Friday.Off the eastern coast, Ditwah started off as a deep depression before becoming a cyclone. It is anticipated to land in India.
River levels in Sri Lanka are still rising, and the DMC has advised people living in low-lying areas to relocate to higher land. The Kelani River valley's low-lying sections are under a red level flood warning for the next 48 hours, according to the Irrigation Department. Colombo, the capital, is among the areas in danger.
Some areas of the island in the north and center are predicted to receive more than 200 mm of rain on Friday, according to Sri Lanka's weather office.The Railway Department has declared that all trains, with the exception of a few critical services, have been canceled starting at 6:00 on Friday. Important routes connecting provinces have also been closed.
Nearly 44,000 individuals have been impacted by the severe weather, according to the DMC. Approximately 20,500 army soldiers have been sent throughout the nation to conduct rescue and relief efforts.
Exams for students taking the Advanced Level Exams, or A-levels, have also been postponed.
Although the monsoon season is already underway in Sri Lanka, such severe weather is uncommon on the island.
In June 2003, Sri Lanka saw the worst floods of the century, resulting in hundreds of thousands of displaced people and 254 fatalities.