Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international assistance as Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ continues to ravage the country, with the death toll rising to 132 and another 176 people missing.

According to the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the cyclonic storm has destroyed more than 15,000 homes, sending 78,000 people to state-run temporary shelters. DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda said relief operations had been strengthened with the deployment of thousands of members of the army, navy and air force.

More to follow…