Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Saturday after 153 people were confirmed dead in floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.

At least 200 others are still missing, as rescue teams continue to struggle to reach isolated communities.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), more than 20,000 homes have been destroyed, forcing over 78,000 people into nearly 800 relief centers across the country.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invoked emergency powers to accelerate relief and recovery efforts after a week of torrential rain inundated homes, fields, and roads, triggering widespread mudslides.

Cyclone Ditwah, which formed east of Sri Lanka, is expected to move toward India’s southern coast by Sunday.

Communities cut off, death toll expected to rise

Landslides have blocked roads in the central Badulla district, leaving entire villages unreachable.

Among the casualties were 11 elderly residents of a care home in Kurunegala, where floodwaters swept through the building on Saturday. 

Social media posts also showed areas hit by overnight mudslides that authorities have yet to reach, prompting fears that the death toll could climb further.

Large-scale rescue operations under way

Thousands of troops have been mobilized alongside police, civilian responders and volunteers. 

In one major operation, 69 bus passengers, including a German tourist, were rescued after being stranded for 24 hours in the Anuradhapura district. 

India has sent two search-and-rescue teams, comprising 80 personnel, and dispatched aid supplies, its embassy in Colombo said.

In Colombo, floodwaters from upstream districts began affecting areas around the city on Friday, including Malwana, where residents experienced the worst flooding in ten years.

As of Saturday, many homes around the city remain without power, and some residents are staying on the upper floors of partially flooded houses to protect their belongings.

More heavy rain expected

The government has closed schools and offices, and has suspended passenger train services, as mudslides, rockslides, and fallen trees continue to block tracks and major roads.

Meteorologists are warning of more rainfall over the weekend, which will increase the risk of flooding and landslides in areas that are already saturated.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko