News|Climate CrisisSri Lanka landslides feared as toll hits 618, widespread loss sweeps AsiaDisaster agency warns that monsoon storms are adding more rain and making hillsides unstable.
## Climate Impact and Disaster Management
Climate Impact and Disaster Management
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025, Sri Lankan authorities issued new landslide warnings as heavy rainfall continues to affect regions already impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that monsoon storms are exacerbating conditions, causing further instability in the central mountainous region and the northwestern midlands.
Over two million individuals, nearly 10 percent of Sri Lanka's population, have been affected by the recent floods and landslides. The government has confirmed 618 fatalities, with 464 from the central tea-growing region, and 209 individuals remain missing. Relief efforts are ongoing, with helicopters and planes delivering aid to isolated communities.
Foreign aid contributions include a planeload of relief supplies from Myanmar. The number of individuals in state-run refugee camps has decreased to 100,000 from a peak of 225,000 as floodwaters recede. More than 75,000 homes sustained damage, including approximately 5,000 that were destroyed.
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025, Sri Lankan authorities issued new landslide warnings as heavy rainfall continues to affect regions already impacted by Cyclone Ditwah.
The estimated cost for recovery and reconstruction is projected to reach up to $7 billion. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is considering a request from Sri Lanka for an additional $200 million to support rebuilding efforts. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake indicated that while the economy has improved, it cannot endure the recent disaster without external assistance.
Elsewhere in Asia, the death toll from floods and landslides in Indonesia's Sumatra island has surpassed 900. Survivors in the Aceh Tamiang region are reportedly struggling to access aid, with conditions exacerbated by recent weather events. In Thailand, at least 276 deaths have been reported, with additional fatalities in Malaysia and Vietnam due to similar conditions.
Malaysia has experienced significant flooding, with the weather agency issuing a thunderstorm warning for several states. Meanwhile, Vietnam continues to endure extensive rainfall, leading to widespread flooding and landslides in coastal and mountainous areas.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.