Sri Lanka: At Least 40 Dead in Floods

Sri Lanka has reported at least 40 fatalities due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall over the past week, according to authorities from the Disaster Management Center (DMC).

The most affected area is the Badulla district in the central region of the country, where 21 individuals were buried in their homes on Wednesday night by torrents of mud swept down from the mountains.

Additionally, four other people lost their lives under similar circumstances in the neighboring Nuwara Eliya district, as reported by the DMC.

As of Thursday evening, a total of 21 individuals were still reported missing.

Across the island, 425 homes have been either destroyed or damaged, and over 1,800 families have been accommodated in emergency shelters.

As is customary during this time of year, Sri Lanka is experiencing heavy rainfall from the Northeast monsoon, which has been intensified in recent days by a depression located to the east of the island, according to the DMC.

Heavy rainfall of up to 250 mm was still expected in the northeastern part of the country on Thursday.

Extreme weather events are common in South Asia during monsoon season, but scientists emphasize that climate change is exacerbating their severity and impact.

Sri Lanka experienced its worst floods of the century in 2003, resulting in 254 deaths.