According to official reports from Saturday, November 29, 2025, the catastrophic flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have killed at least 153 people in Sri Lanka, with nearly 200 others still missing . The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that over 78,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are taking shelter in nearly 800 state-run relief centers .
The cyclone has caused one of the worst weather-related disasters in Sri Lanka in recent years . The death toll has climbed steadily, with officials confirming 153 fatalities and noting that 191 people remain unaccounted for as of Saturday . The destruction is widespread, with more than 20,000 homes destroyed and over half a million people affected nationwide . The government has taken the significant step of declaring a state of emergency to accelerate relief and recovery efforts .
The human cost of the disaster is immense. Among the dead were 11 elderly residents of a care home in the Kurunegala district that was flooded on Saturday . In a major rescue effort, 69 bus passengers, including a German tourist, were saved after being stranded for 24 hours in the Anuradhapura district . Military helicopters have also been deployed for rescue, with one operation airlifting a man who had sought refuge from rising waters at the top of a coconut tree . Thousands of troops have been mobilized to distribute food, clear blocked roads, and move trapped families to safety .
Although Cyclone Ditwah is moving away from Sri Lanka and toward India's southern coast, the crisis is not over . Meteorological authorities have warned of continued rains over the weekend, raising the risk of further flooding and landslides in areas already saturated with water . The DMC has also warned that flood levels could exceed those recorded in 2016, which was a particularly devastating year . Expert warn that Sri Lanka faces the threat of more frequent and intense floods due to the climate crisis .