The Sri Lankan government has declared a state of emergency as Cyclone Ditwah continues to devastate the island, raising the death toll to 390 with a further 352 individuals reported missing.
Although Cyclone Ditwah is reportedly moving towards India, the island continues to face devastation with thousands of people either stranded or displaced to temporary shelters.
Photograph: Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre's situation report
According to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, almost 1 million people across 25 districts have now been impacted with more than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are sheltering in 1,094 government-run safety centres.
UN assessments indicate that more than 15,000 homes have been destroyed.
Mannar
According to Mannar district government agent K Kanagaeswaran, 79,946 people from 24,331 families have been affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding. Two main roads in the district of Mannar, the Mannar - Madhavachchi road and Mannar-Jaffna road, have been cut off due to severe flooding, making it difficult to evacuate local residents to safety.
The flooding has isolated various villages in Mannar, including Koorai and Kunjukulam, leaving them stranded as they await rescue crews.
Malwathu Oya waters has risen to 19 feet, submerging surrounding villages. Rivers in Mannar district, such as Paliyar and Parangiar, are overflowing on to the Mannar-Jaffna road.
Jaffna
One person has died and two others have been injured in Jaffna, while 390 individuals from 130 families have been displaced and are currently residing in temporary shelters.
Vavuniya
Although the rainfall has decreased in Vavuniya, 3,598 people are staying in temporary shelters in the Chettikulam, Vavuniya North and Vavuniya South. Due to the high levels of water, thousands of acres of agricultural land has been flooded.
