Deadly Storm ‘Dithwa’ Kills 46 in Sri Lanka, Dozens Still Missing

A powerful storm named ‘Dithwa’ has struck northern Sri Lanka, unleashing severe floods and landslides that have claimed at least 46 lives so far. As of Friday, 23 people remain missing amid the ongoing natural disaster.

According to local authorities, the majority of fatalities occurred due to landslides triggered by unprecedented rainfall — exceeding 300 millimeters — particularly in the central and eastern regions of the country.

The Sri Lankan Meteorology Department has warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds are likely to persist over the next 12 hours in the affected areas, potentially worsening the already severe flooding.

Sri Lanka, located in South Asia, is highly vulnerable to storms and floods due to its sensitivity to climate change and a lack of resilient infrastructure to manage natural disasters.