Sri Lanka’s death toll from Cyclone Ditwah rose to 212, with 218 people still missing, officials said on Sunday, as massive floods breached a dam and rescue operations stretched into a fourth consecutive day. Nearly one million people have been affected by the cyclone-triggered rains and flooding that engulfed large parts of the island nation.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, close to 200,000 people have taken refuge in 1,275 shelters after record rainfall since Thursday triggered landslides in the central hill regions and caused rivers across the country to overflow, submerging entire towns.

More than 24,000 police, army, and air force personnel remain deployed, attempting to reach stranded families and deliver urgent assistance. The Sri Lankan Air Force airlifted over 120 people after floodwaters breached the Mavil Aru Reservoir dam in the country’s east, while another 2,000 residents were moved to higher ground.

Colombo, the commercial capital, is among the worst-hit areas, with dozens of families still trapped in flooded homes. Over 17,000 people are currently living in shelters in the Colombo district alone, waiting for floodwaters to recede.

Residents say relief has been inconsistent.
“My sister and I were trapped on the upper floor of our home with our four children for two days,” said Sunethra Priyadarshani, 37, speaking to Reuters. “We slowly ran out of food. We only had biscuits and water to give them last night.” The family was eventually rescued by boat and is now seeking temporary shelter with relatives.

Authorities expect flood levels to gradually recede over the next three days as Cyclone Ditwah moves toward southern India. Power, water supply, and communication networks are also expected to be restored in stages after widespread damage to transmission lines and transformers.

Across Southeast Asia, the cyclone’s impact has been severe. Officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand reported a combined death toll of over 600 from flooding and landslides triggered by torrential rains, with relief efforts ongoing for tens of thousands displaced across the region.