Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after devastating floods, which have claimed at least 366 lives and left 366 people still missing. The disaster, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, has forced the evacuation of 148,000 people to temporary shelters, with many areas in and around the capital, Colombo, still submerged.

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called the floods the nation’s worst natural disaster in its history. In a national address, Dissanayake vowed to rebuild the country and restore it to a better state than before. The floods have been compared to the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed around 31,000 people in Sri Lanka and left over 1 million homeless.

Although the rain has subsided in many parts of the country, large parts of Colombo remain flooded. Military helicopters have been dispatched to airlift stranded people and deliver food, though efforts have been hindered by damaged infrastructure. Tragically, one helicopter crashed north of the capital on the evening of November 30, further complicating rescue efforts.

In Ma Oya, north of Colombo, Hasitha Wijewardena shared his struggles in cleaning his home after the floodwaters receded. “The house is now full of mud,” he said, appealing for military help in the cleanup.

In the Colombo suburb of Wennawatte, 46-year-old Selvi fled her flooded home with only a few bags of clothes and valuables, unsure of where to find shelter for her family. Her words reflect the uncertainty and desperation faced by many of Sri Lanka’s flood victims.

This flooding is not only the deadliest disaster Sri Lanka has faced in over two decades but also one of the most severe in the region’s recent history. Authorities are bracing for a massive relief operation, though many low-lying areas are still cut off from aid.

The floods have also highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure in Sri Lanka, a nation still recovering from the impact of previous natural disasters. As rescue operations continue, the scale of the damage remains unclear, but authorities are focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of affected communities.