Tragedy strikes as eight go missing in Sri Lanka floods

In Sri Lanka, eight individuals, including six school children, were reported missing on November 26, 2024, after heavy rain caused a farm tractor they were traveling on to be swept away in floodwaters. The incident occurred in the eastern region of the country, near the town of Karaitivu, highlighting the devastating impact of the severe weather that has plagued the area due to an ongoing deep depression in the Bay of Bengal. Authorities indicated that out of the eleven individuals on the tractor, five children were rescued as efforts to locate the remaining victims commenced. The severe weather conditions, characterized by intense rainfall and strong winds, have resulted in significant flooding across Sri Lanka, leading to damages that have displaced over 3,000 people and caused destruction to nearly 600 homes. The national Disaster Management Center reported that several other weather-related incidents resulted in injuries and significant property damage, including a tragic case where a woman lost her life due to the collapse of a brick wall in the mountainous Badulla region. Rescue operations have been instituted, with military personnel deployed to assist in efforts to locate the missing individuals and provide aid to those affected by the flooding. Train services have been suspended in tea-growing mountainous areas, disrupting normal activities as the country copes with the aftermath of the weather-related disasters. Meteorologists have warned that the deep depression is likely to approach Sri Lanka and may intensify into a cyclonic storm, increasing concerns among residents already grappling with the effects of the monsoon rains, which have caused loss of life and significant destruction in previous months. The country has faced similar challenges since May of the same year, and the urgency for rescue and recovery continues as families await news of their loved ones amid rising floodwaters.