Sri Lanka: At Least 17 Dead and Over 400,000 Affected by Floods (Updated Report)

At least 17 people have lost their lives, and nearly 402,000 individuals have been affected by heavy rainfall and flooding across 24 districts in Sri Lanka, as reported by the Disaster Management Center on Friday.

The Mannar and Jaffna districts have experienced the most significant damage, with over 2,000 homes either completely or partially destroyed. A prior report had counted 12 fatalities and noted that more than 300,000 people were impacted.

The flooding has severely affected rice crops over an area of 64,000 hectares, prompting the evacuation of approximately 20,000 residents from flooded regions.

Adverse weather conditions are obstructing rescue efforts and disaster response operations. The meteorological department has indicated that heavy rains are expected to persist throughout much of Sri Lanka on Friday, with rainfall exceeding 150 mm and strong winds anticipated in the northern province and Trincomalee district.