Rescuers in Sri Lanka recovered the bodies of six children on Thursday, bringing the death toll from torrential rains to 12. The deadly weather, caused by a slow-moving storm, has left over 335,000 people displaced in Sri Lanka, with many homes submerged by flood.
The children drowned when the tractor and trailer they were in, in the eastern Amara district, was swept away by floods. Two men who were driving the vehicle remain missing, and rescue efforts continue.
As the storm moves north toward India’s Tamil Nadu state, Indian weather officials are warning of potential cyclonic conditions. The system, which has already brought heavy rains to Sri Lanka, is expected to reach the Indian coastline on Saturday with winds gusting up to 70 km/h (43 mph).
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported widespread damage, with nearly 100 homes destroyed and over 1,700 badly damaged. More than 2,700 military personnel have been deployed for relief efforts. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such catastrophic weather events in the region.
