Sri Lankan rescue teams reported Thursday that they had recovered the bodies of four children who drowned in flash floods caused by torrential rains. Four other people remain missing as the powerful yet slow-moving storm moves toward India.
The disaster has displaced more than 250,000 Sri Lankans, forcing them to abandon their homes and seek refuge in public shelters. The Sri Lankan government has deployed army personnel to assist with relief and rescue operations.
India’s weather officials indicated that the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal could intensify into a cyclonic storm. Cyclones, akin to hurricanes and typhoons, are a recurring threat in the region.
The storm, after skirting Sri Lanka’s coastline, is now heading toward Tamil Nadu in southern India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts it will make landfall on Saturday morning near Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing strong winds gusting up to 70 km/h (43 mph).
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre confirmed that approximately 276,000 people are currently sheltered in temporary facilities due to severe flooding. Search operations are ongoing for two missing children and two men who were swept away by flash floods while riding a tractor and trailer.
Climate experts warn that the frequency and intensity of rain-related disasters in South Asia are increasing due to climate change, exacerbating the region’s vulnerability to such calamities.
