Sri Lanka extreme weather death toll rises to 479

COLOMBO - The death toll from adverse weather triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has risen to 479 in Sri Lanka, the country's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said Thursday.

Another 350 people remain missing, while more than 1.6 million people from 455,405 families have been affected nationwide, said the DMC, adding that 1,289 houses have been destroyed and over 44,500 have suffered partial damage.

The country's commissioner-general of essential services said that 1,777 tanks, 483 dams, 1,936 canals and 328 agricultural roads under the Department of Agricultural Services have been damaged.

Chinese leaders have offered condolences over the disastrous flooding that hit Sri Lanka, and China, upon Sri Lanka's request, has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including a cash grant and supplies such as life jackets, tents, blankets and bed sheets.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank has approved a 3-million-US-dollar disaster relief grant for Sri Lanka to support emergency operations following Cyclone Ditwah.