Floods affect almost 400,000 people across the country, forcing around 45,000 to seek shelter
Cyclone Ditwah, which hit on Friday (28), caused more than 120 deaths and 130 disappearances. Much of the country was submerged, with dozens of people trapped on the roofs of houses to escape the water. The floods affected almost 400,000 people across the country, forcing around 45,000 to seek shelter.
The intensity of the cyclone has overwhelmed Sri Lanka’s emergency services, but rescues have been hampered by disruptions to transport and telecommunications systems.
The most affected region is the central part of the island, around 160 kilometers north of the capital, Colombo. In the east of the country, almost a hundred students are stranded in student accommodation without food or drinking water, as floodwaters approach the university campus.
Despite the official number of 120 deaths, authorities fear that the damage will be much greater: just one of the districts, Badulla, in the central region, accounts for 50 deaths and 41 disappearances, according to the city hall. New York Times.
A man stands amid floodwaters outside his home in Wellampitiya, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka
The natural disaster worsens the difficulties of a country that is still trying to overcome the scars of decades of civil war and a recent economic crisis.
Train services are suspended and many highways are blocked. Widespread communications outages have been reported and a quarter of the population is without power.
India’s foreign ministry said it had sent 27 tonnes of supplies by air and sea, including tents, blankets and hygiene kits, as well as 80-person rescue teams to assist in emergency efforts. The United States also committed $2 million to support immediate relief efforts, according to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nícolas Robert
