December 13, Colombo (LNW): Widespread extreme weather has caused extensive damage across Sri Lanka, with more than 5,700 homes reduced to rubble nationwide, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
Thousands more buildings have suffered varying degrees of damage as communities grapple with the aftermath of flooding, landslides and high winds.
Kandy District has emerged as the hardest hit in terms of housing losses, recording over 1,500 homes completely destroyed alongside more than 14,000 partially damaged. Nuwara Eliya follows closely, where hundreds of houses have been flattened and several thousand more rendered unsafe. Puttalam ranks third overall, with more than 600 homes destroyed and over 20,000 sustaining partial damage, underlining the scale of destruction along the western belt.
Significant losses have also been reported elsewhere, including Kurunegala, Badulla, Kegalle, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, each seeing hundreds of homes wiped out as the severe weather swept across the island.
Human impact figures remain deeply concerning. Colombo District has recorded the highest number of affected residents, with more than 330,000 people from over 86,000 families impacted. Large numbers have also been affected in Puttalam, Kandy, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Mannar, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Badulla and Ratnapura, reflecting the nationwide reach of the disaster.
The death toll has climbed to 640, the DMC confirmed, with Kandy District accounting for the largest share of fatalities at 234. Badulla has reported 90 deaths, followed by Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kegalle and Matale, each recording significant losses of life.
Displacement remains a major challenge. More than 82,000 people from over 26,000 families are currently sheltering in 847 temporary camps across the country. Kandy hosts the largest number of relief centres, accommodating more than 27,000 people, while substantial numbers are also housed in camps in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Kegalle. Authorities say relief operations are ongoing as assessments continue and further assistance is mobilised for affected communities.
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