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At least 31 dead as heavy floods devastate Sri Lanka
Severe flooding and landslides triggered by a week of relentless rainfall have left at least 31 people dead in Sri Lanka, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre. The central regions, already vulnerable during the monsoon season, were hit particularly hard as soil saturated by days of downpours gave way.
The district of Badulla recorded the highest number of casualties after sudden overnight landslides swept away homes, burying 16 residents as they slept. Nearby Nuwara Eliya reported four additional deaths under similar circumstances, underscoring the scale of the unfolding tragedy.
Across the island, around 400 houses have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 1,100 families have been relocated to emergency shelters as authorities continue to monitor rising water levels and unstable terrain.
The Northeast Monsoon, which typically brings heavy seasonal rains to Sri Lanka, has been intensified this year by a low-pressure system hovering off the island’s eastern coast. Meteorologists expect rainfall to continue, with some regions forecast to receive up to 250 mm in a single day.
Experts warn that climate change is contributing to increasingly violent and unpredictable weather patterns in South Asia, amplifying the risks faced by communities living in mountainous or flood-prone areas. Emergency teams remain on high alert as the threat of new landslides and flash floods persists.
