Over 1.6 Million Affected and 479 Lives Lost

04-Dec-2025

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Severe landslides and flooding caused by Cyclone have affected over 1.6 million people and damaged approximately 44,000 homes. 

As of the night of Dec 3, 479 deaths and 350 missing persons have been reported.

Kandy District recorded the highest number of deaths at 118, with 171 missing. Nuwara Eliya reported 89 deaths and 73 missing, Badulla 83 deaths and 28 missing, Kurunegala 56 deaths and 23 missing, Matale 28 deaths and 2 missing, and Kegalle 30 deaths and 41 missing.

Nationwide, 1,614,790 individuals from 455,405 families have been affected. A total of 188,974 people are sheltering in 1,347 temporary camps. Overall, 1,289 houses are fully destroyed and 44,556 partially damaged.

Rescue operations in Nuwara Eliya have involved military teams deployed by air. A total of 288 trapped individuals were rescued from various locations including Kotmale, Nuwara Eliya, Irampola, Meemure, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Pannila, Balluwatta and Mandanam Nuwara.

Of around 50 missing in the Kotmale, Mawathura and Koswatta areas, only 9 bodies have been recovered so far. Eight more bodies were recovered yesterday in the Nawalapitiya–Tholaspaha and Barakola areas. Search operations for five more missing individuals continue.

Major roads in Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Batticaloa have been reopened. Multiple roads in Badulla, Bandarawela, Ella and Nuwara Eliya remain closed due to landslides.

Several roads in Puttalam, Kurunegala, Mullaitivu and the North Central Province remain inaccessible due to damage, including the Anuradhapura–Puttalam road near Kala Oya bridge, where reconstruction has begun.

Water levels remain high in low-lying areas of Gampaha and Colombo, including Sedawatta, Wellampitiya, Orugodawatta, Kelaniya and surrounding zones. A total of 20,203 residents have been evacuated and housed in safe locations.