Sat Nov 30 05:05:46 UTC 2024: ## Fifteen Dead as Cyclone Fengal Batters Sri Lanka

**Colombo, November 30, 2024** – At least fifteen people have died and over 450,000 have been affected by severe flooding, strong winds, and landslides across Sri Lanka, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The devastation is attributed to a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, which has intensified into Cyclone Fengal.

The Eastern Province has been hardest hit, reporting ten fatalities. The Meteorological Department predicts heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm in the north, north-central, and eastern Trincomalee districts, with winds exceeding 60 km/h expected in other areas. While the cyclone is expected to move towards Tamil Nadu, India later today, bringing some relief to Sri Lanka, significant risks remain.

In a tragic incident related to the flooding, police have arrested a school principal and a teacher following the deaths of six students who were traveling on a tractor due to a lack of school buses in Sammanthurai. The students drowned in floodwaters. The DMC continues to monitor the situation and provide aid to affected communities.

Read More