COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities issued new landslide warnings on Sunday as heavy rains continued to batter regions already devastated by Cyclone Ditwah, pushing the death toll in the country to 618. The cyclone, described as the most destructive weather event to hit Sri Lanka in a century, has left millions affected and triggered widespread landslides and floods across the island.
Over the past two weeks, a series of tropical storms and intense monsoonal rains have swept through Southeast and South Asia, leaving a trail of destruction from Indonesia to Vietnam. According to official figures, at least 1,812 people have died across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in weather-related disasters during this period.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) warned that persistent monsoon rains were further destabilising hillsides, particularly in the central highlands and north-western midlands. Many of these areas had already suffered severe landslides following the cyclone. Authorities deployed helicopters and aircraft on Sunday to deliver urgently needed supplies to remote communities cut off due to blocked roads and collapsed terrain.
The Sri Lanka Air Force confirmed receiving a shipment of relief goods from Myanmar, adding to the growing international aid effort. As of Sunday, the government affirmed that 618 people had died, with 464 of the fatalities reported in the tea-growing central region. Another 209 individuals remain missing.
The number of displaced people staying in state-run camps fell to around 100,000, down from a peak of 225,000 as floodwaters gradually receded. However, the scale of property damage remains extensive, with more than 75,000 homes affected and nearly 5,000 completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, Indonesia continues to grapple with catastrophic flooding in Aceh province, where the death toll has risen to 916. President Prabowo Subianto visited the region on Sunday to assess the situation and pledged to accelerate emergency response operations. He stated that all available resources were being mobilised to restore road access, deliver aid and support evacuation efforts. Despite his visit, some survivors accused the government of engaging in “disaster tourism” rather than providing immediate solutions. Protesters in Aceh held signs insisting that the region needs action, not symbolic visits.
Indonesian authorities have resisted declaring a national disaster, a step that would unlock additional resources and enhance coordination among government agencies. Officials estimate that recovery and reconstruction efforts may cost up to $7 billion.
In Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund announced that it is considering the country’s request for an additional $200 million to support rebuilding efforts. This would be in addition to the $347 million tranche due later this month under the ongoing $2.9 billion bailout programme. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament that although the economy had shown signs of recovery, it remained too fragile to endure such a devastating blow without international assistance.
The situation across the region remains critical as authorities continue rescue, relief and reconstruction efforts amid ongoing monsoonal threats.
