Sri Lanka cyclone death toll reaches 212

The death toll from Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 212, with 218 people still missing, officials confirmed on Monday. Rescue operations entered their fourth day as floodwaters breached a dam and nearly a million people have been affected by the disaster.

The Disaster Management Centre reported that record rainfall since last Thursday has forced nearly 200,000 people into 1,275 emergency shelters across the island nation. Multiple landslides have occurred in the central hilly regions while overflowing rivers have submerged entire towns.

Over 24,000 military and police personnel continue search and rescue efforts for families stranded by the floods. The air force has airlifted more than 120 people to safety after water breached the Mavil Aru Reservoir dam in eastern Sri Lanka, with approximately 2,000 others relocated to higher ground.

Dozens of families remain trapped in their homes in the severely affected commercial capital, Colombo. In the suburb of Kelaniya and other areas, while state agencies and donations provide cooked food, many residents report inadequate assistance. More than 17,000 people are currently sheltering while waiting for floodwaters to recede from their homes.

"We were trapped on the upper floor of our home with our four children for two days. We slowly ran out of food," Sunethra Priyadarshani, 37, told Reuters after being rescued by boat. "We only have the clothes we are wearing. We really need help."

Authorities expect floodwaters to gradually recede over the next three days as the cyclone moves toward southern India. Power, water, and communications services are being restored after transmission lines and transformers were swept away.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Southeast Asia, the death toll from related torrential rains has exceeded 600 across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, with relief efforts continuing for tens of thousands of displaced people.