Cyclone "Ditwah" Devastates Sri Lanka: 123 Dead, Government Declares State of Emergency

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka is facing a national crisis after Cyclone Ditwah, a high-intensity storm, made landfall and devastated the country's eastern and northern coastal regions, leaving behind a trail of massive destruction. The government has officially confirmed at least 123 deaths, with more than 130 people still missing.

Cyclone Ditwah struck with maximum wind speeds exceeding 180 kilometers per hour, accompanied by torrential rainfall that triggered a powerful storm surge. The surge destroyed homes and fishing communities within hours. The cyclone's devastating force obliterated critical infrastructure—roads, bridges, and power lines—completely cutting off many towns from the outside world. Communication systems have been severed in numerous areas, creating significant obstacles for rescue operations. Meanwhile, more than 500,000 people have been left homeless overnight and are in urgent need of food, clean drinking water, and medicine.

The cities of Trincomalee and the Mullaitivu district are among the hardest hit. Aerial photographs reveal towns nearly unrecognizable, submerged underwater and filled with debris.

To address a situation beyond its control, the Sri Lankan government has declared a national state of emergency and ordered all branches of the military to deploy at full capacity for humanitarian relief operations.

However, given the scale of destruction that exceeds the country's ability to cope alone, the Sri Lankan government has formally appealed to the international community for assistance—requesting expert rescue teams, medical supplies, and financial aid for both immediate relief efforts and long-term national recovery.

Search and rescue operations continue around the clock, though hope of finding survivors grows dimmer with each passing moment. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of island nations to the threats of climate change, which are becoming increasingly severe and unpredictable.