DMC reports 486 dead, 341 missing

The latest figures from the Disaster Management Center (DMC) paint a grim picture: 486 people are confirmed dead and 341 remain missing as torrential rain continues to impact the island.

The devastation is widespread.

The districts of Kandy (118 deaths), Nuwara Eliya (89), and Badulla (83) have recorded the highest fatalities.

Kegalle has 30 confirmed deaths, and Kurunegala reports 56.

The majority of the 341 missing individuals are from Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, areas where major landslides have buried roads and homes.

The humanitarian crisis includes a staggering 52,489 homes partially damaged and 2,303 houses destroyed, leaving thousands homeless.

In total, 519,842 families have been impacted.

Meanwhile, relief efforts are underway.

Over 1,200 safety centres are now providing shelter for more than 171,700 people.

The hardest-hit areas in terms of sheer numbers affected include Puttalam (322,976), Gampaha (322,342), and Colombo (306,585).

Furthermore, in the north, over 124,000 residents in Mannar have been displaced by severe inundation.

Emergency teams are working constantly to provide essential aid and shelter.