Sri Lanka Grapples with Escalating Flood and Landslide Disaster
Sri Lanka is currently grappling with a severe weather crisis, as torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding and deadly landslides, pushing the national death toll to 56. The escalating disaster, which intensified dramatically last week, has led authorities to close government offices and schools, disrupting daily life across the island nation.
Intensifying Conditions and Widespread Damage
The heavy downpours began impacting Sri Lanka last week, with conditions worsening considerably by Thursday. This surge of extreme weather has submerged homes, agricultural lands, and vital transportation routes, causing extensive damage to over 600 houses nationwide.
One of the hardest-hit areas is the central mountainous tea-growing region, encompassing Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, situated approximately 300km east of the capital, Colombo. Here, a series of devastating landslides on Thursday alone claimed the lives of more than 25 individuals. The government's disaster management centre further reported that 21 people remain missing and 14 others sustained injuries in these two districts. Additional fatalities from landslides have also been recorded in various other parts of the country.
Daily Life Severely Disrupted
The profound impact on daily routines prompted the government to announce the closure of all public sector offices and educational institutions for Friday. The relentless rains have caused numerous reservoirs and rivers to overflow their banks, leading to widespread road blockages. The transport infrastructure has suffered significantly, with passenger train services suspended and many roads rendered impassable due to landslides, which have brought down rocks, mud, and trees onto railway tracks and roadways, some of which are also underwater.
Emergency Response Efforts Underway
Emergency services are working tirelessly to assist affected populations. Local television broadcasts on Thursday depicted a dramatic rescue operation where an air force helicopter airlifted three individuals stranded on the roof of their flood-encircled home. Concurrently, the navy and police deployed boats to evacuate residents from submerged areas. Tragic footage from near the eastern town of Ampara also showed a car being swept away by powerful floodwaters, resulting in the deaths of its three passengers.