Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo is reeling from the devastating effects of Cyclone Ditwah, which has left a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. As floodwaters continue to rise, hundreds have been displaced, and emergency services are struggling to cope with the scale of the disaster.
The death toll stands at 193, with an estimated 228 people still missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Cyclone Ditwah's week-long torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding and mudslides across the island, leaving many areas inaccessible.
Residents are facing a harrowing struggle as they try to salvage what is left of their homes. In Wennawatte, one Colombo suburb, 46-year-old Selvi was forced to flee her flooded home, carrying only what possessions she could save. "My house is completely flooded," she told the AFP news agency, "I do not know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter where I can take my family."
As floodwaters recede in other areas, such as Manampitiya, 250km northeast of Colombo, the full extent of destruction has become apparent. The town, known for its flood-prone conditions, was hit with a volume of water that residents described as unprecedented.
With blood supplies critically low, medical teams are under pressure to cope with the urgent needs arising from the disaster. Lakshman Edirisinghe, the blood bank chief, reported receiving only 236 units against a daily requirement of 1,500.
The government has declared a state of emergency and is appealing for international assistance, which has already been pledged by India, Pakistan, and Japan. The full extent of damage to homes and businesses is still being assessed, but it is clear that Cyclone Ditwah has left Sri Lanka's capital city in ruins.
With ongoing landslide risks, officials warn of further danger as saturated mountain slopes threaten to unleash more devastation on communities already reeling from the disaster. As rescue efforts continue, the international community watches with concern, offering what support they can to a nation struggling to cope with its worst natural disaster since 2017.
The death toll stands at 193, with an estimated 228 people still missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Cyclone Ditwah's week-long torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding and mudslides across the island, leaving many areas inaccessible.
Residents are facing a harrowing struggle as they try to salvage what is left of their homes. In Wennawatte, one Colombo suburb, 46-year-old Selvi was forced to flee her flooded home, carrying only what possessions she could save. "My house is completely flooded," she told the AFP news agency, "I do not know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter where I can take my family."
As floodwaters recede in other areas, such as Manampitiya, 250km northeast of Colombo, the full extent of destruction has become apparent. The town, known for its flood-prone conditions, was hit with a volume of water that residents described as unprecedented.
With blood supplies critically low, medical teams are under pressure to cope with the urgent needs arising from the disaster. Lakshman Edirisinghe, the blood bank chief, reported receiving only 236 units against a daily requirement of 1,500.
The government has declared a state of emergency and is appealing for international assistance, which has already been pledged by India, Pakistan, and Japan. The full extent of damage to homes and businesses is still being assessed, but it is clear that Cyclone Ditwah has left Sri Lanka's capital city in ruins.
With ongoing landslide risks, officials warn of further danger as saturated mountain slopes threaten to unleash more devastation on communities already reeling from the disaster. As rescue efforts continue, the international community watches with concern, offering what support they can to a nation struggling to cope with its worst natural disaster since 2017.
... I remember when cyclones hit Sri Lanka back in the day, we'd get like, 2-3 inches of rain and it would cause all sorts of problems. Now they're getting like, weeks worth of rain and it's devastating. It's crazy how fast things can change, you know? 
And the blood shortage is insane... I mean, I've seen some serious emergencies in my time online, but this one takes the cake. 
193 people are dead, 228 missing... it's just heartbreaking. And the fact that they're still getting landslides and stuff, it's like the mountain slopes are just gonna keep on giving, you know? 
. And the thought of all those homes and businesses destroyed... it’s just devastating 
. As a global citizen, it's hard not to feel helpless watching from afar 
. The international support so far from countries like India, Pakistan, and Japan is a good start, but I'm sure Sri Lanka will need much more than that to recover from this 
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Oh man, Cyclone Ditwah is absolutely devastating! Colombo is going through such a tough time right now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all those affected by the floodwaters 
. It's heartbreaking to see Selvi and her family struggling to find safe shelter - can't even imagine what they're going through 
. Hope the rescue efforts continue to make progress and that people start rebuilding soon... 
. The flooding in areas like Wennawatte and Manampitiya must've been terrifying, and it's amazing that Selvi was able to save what she could from her flooded home 
. But seriously, 193 deaths is a huge number, and the fact that there are still 228 people missing is just heartbreaking 
like 193 ppl have died & over 200 are still missing 
I just wanna cry for those affected but at the same time I'm glad that ppl from other countries r offering help