Sri Lanka faces a deepening humanitarian crisis as Cyclone Ditwah's death toll rose to 355 on December 2, 2025, with 370 people still missing. Rescue teams continue search operations after floodwaters breached a dam, submerging entire communities and displacing nearly one million residents. Over 200,000 people have sought refuge in 1,275 emergency shelters across the island nation.
Authorities report that relief supplies are gradually reaching stranded populations, though damaged infrastructure has slowed distribution. Essential services, including electricity and clean water, are expected to be partially restored within three days. The cyclone's aftermath has drawn international aid pledges, with regional neighbors mobilizing disaster response teams.
This marks Sri Lanka's deadliest weather event since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, underscoring vulnerabilities to extreme climate patterns. Meteorologists attribute Ditwah's intensity to warmer-than-average sea temperatures in the Bay of Bengal, a trend increasingly observed in recent years.
