Low-lying areas of Sri Lanka’s capital were flooded on Sunday after a powerful cyclone triggered heavy rains and mudslides across the island, killing at least 212 people and leaving many more missing.
Officials said the extent of the damage in the island’s worst-affected central region was only just being revealed as relief workers cleared roads blocked by fallen trees and mudslides.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said at least 212 people had died following a week of heavy rains brought on by Cyclone Ditwah, while 218 people were missing.
The northern parts of Colombo were flooded as the water level in the Kelani River rose rapidly since Saturday, when mandatory evacuation orders were issued.
“Although the cyclone has left us, heavy rains upstream are now flooding low-lying areas along the banks of the Kelani River,” a DMC official said.
A helicopter from India that joined the relief efforts rescued 24 people on Sunday, including a pregnant woman and a man in a wheelchair, marooned in the central town of Kotmale, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) northeast of Colombo.
Pakistan was also sending rescue teams, the Sri Lankan Air Force said, while Japan will also send a team to assess Sri Lanka’s immediate needs and has pledged assistance.
The air force also said it had rescued two infants and a 10-year-old child from a hospital in the northern town of Chilaw, which was submerged on Saturday.
Authorities said flood levels in the capital would take at least a day to recede, while dry weather was also forecast. Cyclone Ditwah moved north towards India on Saturday.
LND/SAE
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