Sri Lankan rescue teams have recovered the bodies of four children who drowned in a flash flood triggered by torrential rains. Four others, including two children and two men, remain missing. The flooding was caused by a slow-moving storm that has displaced over 250,000 people across the island nation.
The Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre reported that around 276,000 people have sought temporary shelter in public buildings after their homes were inundated. The government has mobilized the army to assist in relief and rescue operations as search teams continue to look for the missing individuals, swept away while riding on a tractor and trailer.
The storm, categorized as a “deep depression,” is now moving north towards India. Indian meteorological officials have indicated a possibility of the weather system intensifying into a cyclonic storm. It is expected to make landfall along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry’s coast on Saturday morning, with wind speeds gusting up to 70 km/h.
Cyclones, a recurring threat in South Asia, often bring deadly floods and landslides. Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in the region.
As Sri Lanka grapples with the aftermath of the deluge, authorities remain on high alert for further impacts, both in Sri Lanka and the neighboring Indian states likely to be affected by the storm’s progression.
