Sri Lanka declares state of emergency as cyclone ‘Ditwah’ kills 132, 176 still missing

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international assistance as Cyclone Ditwah continued to batter the island nation. The disaster has so far claimed 132 lives, with 176 people reported missing.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the storm has destroyed more than 15,000 homes, forcing 78,000 people into state-run temporary shelters. DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda said relief operations have been intensified, with thousands of army, navy, and air force personnel deployed to aid affected communities.

Emergency powers invoked

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invoked emergency powers, granting himself broad authority to manage the devastation. Officials report that roughly a third of the country remains without electricity and running water, as collapsed power lines and flooded water treatment facilities continue to disrupt essential services.

Catastrophic floods and landslides

Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka’s most severe natural disaster in over a decade, has caused widespread floods and landslides, leaving several districts submerged and cut off. Entire communities have reportedly been buried under landslides, overwhelming local governance.

“The emergency was required for rapid scaling of search and rescue operations and the prevention of mass casualties,” officials said, as roads, bridges, rail lines, and power grids suffered extensive damage across the nation.

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Cyclone advancing towards India

The same cyclone system is now moving towards India’s southern coast. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states have issued high alerts, warning of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of urban flooding in the coming days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone is moving north–northwest over the Bay of Bengal and is currently about 220 km from Karaikal, steadily approaching the coastal region spanning north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh. The IMD predicts the storm will make landfall in the early hours of 30 November.