Sri Lanka Floods Leave 56 Dead, Dozens Missing

Published: 28 November 2025 Friday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Sri Lanka is reeling from one of its worst weather-related disasters in recent years, with at least 56 people dead and 21 missing after relentless rainfall triggered severe floods and landslides across the island. Entire towns have been inundated, key transport networks brought to a standstill, and thousands displaced as the country braces for even more extreme weather in the coming days.

The worst-hit region is the central tea-growing district of Badulla, where a massive landslide swept through hillside homes overnight, killing 21 residents as they slept. Rescue teams struggled to reach the area due to blocked roads and unstable terrain, with emergency workers warning that additional landslides remain possible as rain continues to pound the region.

Videos circulating on social media show torrents of muddy water rushing through residential areas, carrying away cars, trees, and even entire houses. Across the country, train services have been largely suspended, the Railway Department confirmed, with only a handful of essential routes still operating. Authorities have also shut down key roads linking major provinces due to flooding and landslip risks.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that nearly 44,000 people have been affected nationwide and that around 20,500 army personnel have been deployed to support rescue and relief operations. Temporary shelters have been set up in schools, temples, and community halls to house displaced families. Students scheduled to sit for the Advanced Level examinations have had their tests postponed as a result of the widespread disruption.

Sri Lanka now faces the threat of intensifying weather conditions as Cyclone Ditwah moves along its eastern coastline. The storm, which began as a deep depression before strengthening into a cyclone, is expected to make landfall in India but is already influencing rainfall patterns across Sri Lanka. Meteorologists warn that some central and northern regions could see over 200 millimetres of rain on Friday, while rising river levels pose a growing danger to low-lying communities.

The Irrigation Department has issued a red-level flood warning for the Kelani River valley, including the capital Colombo, over the next 48 hours. Residents have been urged to move to higher ground immediately as water levels continue to rise. Emergency teams are on standby for additional evacuations as forecasters predict more intense rainfall throughout the weekend.

Sri Lanka’s monsoon season typically brings heavy rains, but disasters of this scale are rare. The worst flooding in the country’s recent history occurred in June 2003, when 254 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The current catastrophe, experts say, underscores the growing unpredictability and severity of weather events linked to regional climate patterns.

Public services, communications networks, and local economies have also been disrupted by the crisis. With transport halted in several regions, relief efforts have been hampered, forcing authorities to rely on military helicopters and boats to reach isolated communities. Government agencies have appealed for calm, urging residents to follow evacuation orders and avoid attempting to cross flooded roads.

International humanitarian organisations are monitoring the situation closely, with many preparing to provide assistance should conditions worsen. Local authorities remain focused on search-and-rescue efforts, though hopes of finding the missing diminish with each passing hour.

As Sri Lanka braces for more rainfall and potential cyclone impacts, the nation mourns the growing toll of a disaster that has reshaped daily life for tens of thousands. For many families, the full extent of the devastation may not be known until waters recede and rescue teams can access the hardest-hit areas.