Devastating Cyclone Ditwah: Sri Lankans Search for Missing Victims Amid Massive Destruction

In Sri Lanka, more than 350 individuals remain unaccounted for following the devastating cyclone that struck the region.

On Wednesday, local villagers employed spades to clear away thick mud as they desperately searched for bodies of loved ones and acquaintances. This search comes days after a catastrophic landslide, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, destroyed 13 homes during the night. The disaster has left minimal remnants—merely a shattered window pane, collapsed house walls, and a crimson sari entangled in the mud.

Neil Jayasinghe, who manages a bakery in a neighboring town, shared with Reuters: "We managed to dig out my uncle, his wife, and his mother-in-law last night. We just wrapped them in a sheet and buried them nearby. There wasn't even a coffin."

The recent catastrophic storms have caused widespread devastation across South and Southeast Asia, with significant damage reported in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These weather events have claimed hundreds of lives throughout the region.

According to government reports, Cyclone Ditwah has caused the worst flooding Sri Lanka has experienced in a decade, affecting approximately 1.2 million people, with the death toll reaching 474.

Shantha Kumara, aged 49, was manually moving bricks while searching for bodies. He recounted his family's narrow escape: "We made it to a temple nearby and returned at dawn, but by that time nothing was left." Kumara had fled with his wife and three children as surrounding homes collapsed.

In Gampola town, 71-year-old B.S. Wickramasinghe was clearing sludge from his electronics repair shop. With assistance from his son, he sorted through mud-covered radios while nearby television sets lay buried in muck. "When the owners come and ask me for their TVs, I am just going to point to this, because there is no way I can replace them," he stated, estimating his financial losses at approximately 7 million rupees ($23,000).

Gampola is situated in Kandy, the region most severely impacted by the cyclone, where authorities have confirmed 118 fatalities.

At the local government offices, officials and volunteers are coordinating relief efforts to provide essential supplies including prepared meals, water, clothing, and other necessities to 8,000 individuals across 27 regional relief centers.

Regional official Chinthani Herath indicated that authorities will need to evaluate the long-term safety of affected areas. "We will have to look at the location of these villages with the support of other government agencies," Herath added, suggesting potential relocation of communities to safer zones.