The death toll from severe flooding and mudslides in Sri Lanka has reached 132, with 176 individuals still unaccounted for, according to authorities on Saturday. Nearly 78,000 people have been displaced and are currently residing in temporary shelters, as reported by the country's disaster management center. The situation remains critical, and officials anticipate that the death toll may continue to rise.

Social media posts from Saturday highlighted several areas impacted by overnight mudslides that have yet to be accessed by rescue teams. Sri Lanka has faced intense weather conditions since last week, with the situation deteriorating on Thursday due to heavy rainfall. This deluge has led to widespread flooding of homes, agricultural fields, and roadways, particularly in the tea-growing regions of the central hill country.

In response to the crisis, the government has closed schools and offices and postponed examinations. Many reservoirs and rivers have overflowed, resulting in blocked roads. Authorities have halted passenger train services and closed numerous roads across the country due to landslides, which have deposited rocks, mud, and trees onto transportation routes.

By Friday, water from the most affected areas began to flow downstream, inundating regions around the capital, Colombo, which has experienced relatively less rainfall. Cyclone Ditwah, which formed in the waters east of Sri Lanka, is expected to move toward India's southern coast by Sunday.

In a show of solidarity, neighboring India has dispatched two search-and-rescue teams, consisting of 80 rescuers, along with aid to assist in ongoing relief efforts, as confirmed by the Indian embassy in Colombo on Saturday. The international community continues to monitor the situation as rescue operations unfold amid the ongoing severe weather conditions.