Ditwah rescue operations called off as 173 remain missing

Colombo, Feb. 10 (Daily Mirror) - Authorities have officially ceased search and rescue operations for persons reported missing following Cyclone Ditwah even as 173 individuals remain unaccounted for, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, DMC Director Pradeep Kodippili stated that rescue efforts were halted as more than two months have passed since the cyclone struck, making further search operations unnecessary under current protocols.

However, he stressed that those missing due to Cyclone Ditwah will not be declared dead, drawing parallels to the 2004 tsunami, after which more than 5,000 people remain officially listed as missing to this day.

As of yesterday, the confirmed death toll from Cyclone Ditwah stands at 650, with four additional deaths reported recently.

The DMC said these victims had succumbed to complications while receiving treatment at hospitals.

Kodippili noted that a decision on compensation for families of the missing has yet to be made.

“No policy decision has been taken so far regarding compensation for those reported missing. This will be decided in due course,” he said.

Meanwhile, more than two months after the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, 6,431 people remain displaced and continue to live in tents in the worst-affected areas.

In addition, 155,255 people from 45,056 families are currently staying with relatives, friends, or at alternative locations, according to the DMC.

Ditwah made landfall on November 27, 2025, bringing heavy rain and landslides that triggered flooding. The disaster caused widespread damage to farms, irrigation systems, roads, power supply, railway lines, and buildings.