Sri Lanka Issues New Alerts as Cyclone Rain Raises Death Toll

Sri Lankan authorities issued new landslide alerts on Sunday as heavy rains continued to hit areas already damaged by a powerful cyclone, raising the confirmed death toll to 627. Over the past two weeks, a series of tropical storms and monsoon rains has struck South and Southeast Asia, causing widespread flooding, blocking road access, and triggering landslides from Sumatra’s forests to Sri Lanka’s hill regions. Across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, at least 1,826 people have lost their lives in these natural disasters, which have created one of the region’s worst humanitarian challenges in recent years.

In Sri Lanka alone, more than two million people—around 10% of the population—have been affected by flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the biggest storm to hit the island in decades. The Disaster Management Centre reported that ongoing monsoon rains are worsening conditions and making slopes unstable in central and northwestern regions. Helicopters and aircraft were deployed on Sunday to reach communities cut off by landslides, and the Sri Lanka Air Force confirmed receiving another batch of foreign relief supplies, including a shipment from Myanmar.

The government said 471 of the confirmed deaths occurred in the central tea-growing areas, while 190 people remain missing. The number of people staying in temporary camps has dropped from 225,000 to 90,000 as floodwaters slowly receded. However, more than 80,000 houses have been damaged, including nearly 5,000 completely destroyed, highlighting the scale of destruction. Officials also noted that recovery efforts will take significant time and resources.

In Indonesia, where the death toll has reached 921 with hundreds still missing, President Prabowo Subianto returned to hard-hit Aceh province on Sunday to supervise emergency operations. Although protesters accused leaders of “disaster tourism”, the government stated that Mr. Prabowo’s visit was meant to speed up aid distribution, help reopen blocked roads, and review evacuation efforts. Long queues for water and fuel were reported in Banda Aceh, and prices of daily essentials such as eggs have sharply increased. Despite the severe damage, Indonesian authorities have not yet declared a national disaster, although such a move could free additional resources.

Back in Sri Lanka, the government announced a major financial support plan on Friday to rebuild homes and revive businesses destroyed by the cyclone. Officials estimate that total recovery and reconstruction could cost up to $7 billion. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed it is reviewing Sri Lanka’s request for an additional $200 million to support rebuilding efforts. This would be separate from the $347 million scheduled for release later this month under the country’s four-year bailout program.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament that although Sri Lanka’s economy has improved since the 2022 crisis, it is still not strong enough to handle a disaster of this scale without global assistance. As the country continues to face persistent rains and unstable terrain, authorities say the coming days will be crucial for rescue operations, relief distribution, and long-term recovery. The situation remains extremely challenging for millions of affected people, and the government has declared rebuilding the nation a national priority.