Deadly Floods and Landslides in Sri Lanka: 56 Fatalities, Government Closures and Ongoing Rescue Operations

Devastating floods and landslides have ravaged Sri Lanka, causing a death toll of 56 people and extensive damage to over 600 homes across the nation.

The government in Colombo announced the closure of all government offices and educational institutions on Friday as the severe weather conditions continued to worsen throughout the country.

Sri Lanka began experiencing extreme weather last week, with conditions deteriorating significantly on Thursday due to torrential downpours. These heavy rains led to widespread flooding of residential areas, agricultural fields, and transportation infrastructure, while also triggering deadly landslides across various regions.

In the central mountainous tea-growing areas of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, situated approximately 300 kilometers east of Colombo, landslides claimed more than 25 lives on Thursday alone. According to the government's disaster management center, an additional 21 individuals remain missing and 14 were injured in these affected regions.

Further casualties occurred from landslides reported in other parts of the country as weather conditions deteriorated.

The heavy rainfall has caused most reservoirs and rivers to overflow, resulting in significant road blockages. Authorities have suspended passenger train services and closed numerous roads across Sri Lanka after rocks, mud, and trees fell onto transportation routes, many of which were also submerged in floodwaters.

Local television broadcasts showed dramatic rescue operations, including footage of an air force helicopter saving three individuals who had become stranded on the roof of a house surrounded by floodwaters on Thursday. The navy and police have also deployed boats to evacuate and transport residents from flooded areas.

In a tragic incident near the eastern town of Ampara, television footage captured a car being swept away by powerful floodwaters, resulting in the deaths of three passengers.