The cyclone caused landslides and floods that have killed hundreds of people, with hundreds more still missing. Sri Lanka is trying to secure IMF assistance to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
The cyclone caused landslides and floods that have killed hundreds of people, with hundreds more still missing. Sri Lanka is trying to secure IMF assistance to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
Flooded street in Sri Lanka after the cyclone on Dec 5, 2025
The National Building Research Organization has continued to issue warnings against potential
Landslide warnings were still being issued in Sri Lanka in the wake of last week’s Cyclone Ditwah, with the death toll from the floods jumping to 607.
Some 214 people remained missing, the Disaster Management Center said. Many of those previously unaccounted for were now presumed dead.
What else do we know about the scale of the damage?
The floods damaged over 5,000 houses, destroying thousands of acres of land.
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO), which monitors the stability of mountain slopes, continued to issue warnings on Friday.
“Since rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 150 millimetres, if the rains continue, evacuate to a safe location to avoid the risk of landslides,” the NBRO said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the cyclone and its aftermath as the island nation’s most challenging national disaster.
Houses damaged by the overflowing Mahaweli River following Cyclone Ditwah, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, December 4, 2025Houses damaged by the overflowing Mahaweli River following Cyclone Ditwah, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, December 4, 2025
President Dissanayake has pledged generous compensations to help the victims with rebuilding their homes and livelihoods
How has Sri Lanka addressed the disaster?
Sri Lanka’s military deployed thousands of troops to assist with clearing the aftermath of the floods. Reconstruction costs were estimated to stand between $6 billion (roughly €5.15 billion) and $7 billion.
The government has sought donations to repair the damage, but President Dissanayake still pledged generous compensation to help the victims rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
