Cyclone Ditwah’s toll 649 dead, 173 still missing

85 relief centres established providing shelter to 6,680 displaced individuals

The death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has surged to 649 people, with an additional 173 individuals still missing, according to the latest report from Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The Kandy District remains the epicentre of the tragedy, bearing the heaviest losses with 243 confirmed fatalities and 69 people unaccounted for. The neighbouring districts of Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya also report severe casualties, with 38 and 32 missing persons, respectively. The DMC confirmed that 81 deaths occurred in Nuwara Eliya, while Badulla District recorded 89 fatalities. 

In response to the widespread devastation, authorities have established 85 relief centres across the affected regions, currently providing shelter to 6,680 displaced individuals.