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Sri Lanka Issues New Landslide Alerts As Cyclone Ditwah Death Toll Rises To 607

10:19 PM, 12/05/2025
Sri Lanka Issues New Landslide Alerts As Cyclone Ditwah Death Toll Rises To 607

Heavy monsoon rains have renewed landslide warnings across Sri Lanka's central highlands while the confirmed death toll from Cyclone Ditwah rose to 607. The NBRO warned that more than 150 mm of rain in 24 hours can destabilise slopes and urged evacuations in vulnerable areas. Authorities say over two million people have been affected, around 150,000 remain in state camps, and reconstruction costs are estimated at $6–7 billion. The president has asked the IMF to delay a $347 million loan instalment to seek a larger payout for recovery.

Sri Lanka Issues Fresh Landslide Warnings After Deadly Floods

Heavy monsoon rains have prompted new landslide alerts across Sri Lanka's hardest-hit central highlands, authorities warned, as the confirmed death toll from Cyclone Ditwah rose to 607. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) said continued heavy rainfall could further saturate soils and destabilise mountain slopes.

"Since rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 150 millimetres, if the rains continue, evacuate to a safe location to avoid the risk of landslides,"
the NBRO said in a statement, urging residents in vulnerable areas to move to safety.

Human Toll and Displacement

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed 607 deaths, and said many people previously unaccounted for are now presumed to have perished in the devastating mudslides. Authorities revised the number of missing from 341 to 214, while the total number of people affected by the disaster has climbed to just over two million. As floodwaters receded in and around the capital, Colombo, the number of people in state-run camps fell to about 150,000 from a peak of 225,000.

Damage, Recovery And Funding

Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, who is overseeing recovery operations, estimated reconstruction costs at between $6 billion and $7 billion. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced measures to provide compensation to help victims rebuild homes and restore livelihoods, and said he had asked the IMF to postpone the release of the sixth instalment of a $2.9 billion bailout to negotiate a larger payout.

Addressing parliament, Dissanayake said the IMF board had been due to release $347 million on December 15 but the government requested a delay to allow fresh negotiations because the nation's economic outlook has been dramatically altered by the disaster.

Local Response And Relief Efforts

Friday's new landslide alerts covered areas not previously identified as high risk, and residents evacuated from the central hills were warned not to return to their homes immediately. In Gampola, volunteers and local residents worked to clear heavy mud and repair water-damaged houses. At the Gate Jumma Mosque, cleric Faleeldeen Qadiri told AFP that volunteers were arriving from other districts to help with clean-up efforts.

"We have calculated that it takes 10 men a whole day to clean one house," said a volunteer named Rinas. "No one can do this without help." Sri Lanka's military has deployed thousands of troops to assist with clearing operations and rescues. Nearly 300 tourists stranded during the disaster were airlifted to safety by helicopter, tourism officials said.

Relief and recovery efforts are ongoing as authorities continue to monitor weather forecasts and urge vigilance in vulnerable hill areas.

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Sri Lanka Issues New Landslide Alerts As Cyclone Ditwah Death Toll Rises To 607 - CRBC News