Summary
Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka, causing severe damage to tea plantations and killing hundreds of people. The storm affected over two million people and seriously disrupted the country's tea industry, which is a major part of its economy.
Key Facts
- Cyclone Ditwah is considered the worst cyclone to hit Sri Lanka in 100 years.
- The cyclone killed at least 635 people and affected more than two million people in Sri Lanka.
- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency and labeled 22 out of 25 districts as disaster zones.
- Central Sri Lanka, known for tea and vegetable farming, suffered significant damage with 471 deaths in that region alone.
- Tea is the second largest source of export revenue for Sri Lanka, following apparel.
- Destruction from the cyclone included floods and landslides that damaged tea plantations, roads, and railways.
- Economic losses from the cyclone are estimated at around $6 billion, nearly 3.5% of Sri Lanka's GDP.
- The cyclone is expected to reduce tea production by up to 35%, further hurting the plantation workers.
