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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka was battered by heavy rainfalls and powerful storms as Cyclone Ditwah made landfall early Friday on the country’s eastern coast, killing dozens and shutting down much of the island.

By late evening, as the cyclone churned northwest toward India, the death toll from floods and landslides in its wake reached at least 69. Officials warned that the actual toll, still being tallied, could be much higher.

Entire towns, including several heritage sites, were underwater. Eyewitnesses videos showed floodwaters reaching as high up as second-story buildings and partially sweeping away bridges. Rail services were suspended, some major highways have been blocked, and telecom and power outages were reported in large parts of

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