Colombo: The death toll from massive floods in Sri Lanka has risen to 12, with eight additional fatalities reported due to flooding and landslides, as stated by authorities.

According to Anadolu Agency, eight of the deceased are from the Ampara district in the Eastern province, and 17 individuals have sustained injuries. On Thursday, rescuers recovered the bodies of four children who had drowned, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced in at least 10 districts across the island nation.

Sri Lankan government figures indicate that over 270,000 people in the Northern and Eastern provinces have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the floods. Floodwaters have also submerged several key roads in these provinces, according to local English daily Tamil Guardian.

In response to the disaster, the government has called on the army to assist in relief operations. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to provide relief services to those affected by the floods. Sri Lanka’s Disaster Ma
nagement Centre reported that around 276,000 people are seeking temporary shelter in public buildings after their homes were inundated.

The disaster center also mentioned that search teams are continuing efforts to locate two missing children and two men, who were swept away by flash floods. Rain-related floods and landslides are frequent in South Asia; however, experts note that climate change is contributing to an increase in their frequency and severity.