Death toll from Cyclone Ditwah rises to 159 in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said on Sunday that the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah, which has been affecting the country in recent days, has climbed to 159, with 203 still missing. Nearly 834,000 people have been affected across 25 districts, the center said.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a State of Public Emergency effective, as the country confronts one of its worst weather-related disasters in recent years. Authorities have established 919 safety centers to help shelter evacuees, according to the DMC.