LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Local members of the Sri Lankan community came together to mourn those who have died as Cyclone Ditwah hit the country.
The death toll from Ditwah has surged past 250, with hundreds still unaccounted for, as massive flooding and landslides continue to devastate communities across the island. Sri Lankan authorities say heavy floods and mudslides caused by the cyclone have displaced nearly 400,000 people.
Locals like Sanje Sedera and the Nevada Buddhist Temple gathered to mourn the devastation caused by this natural disaster. Sedera has called the valley home for 32 years but his birthplace is in Sri Lanka. He still has a lot of family who live in that country.
“We have lost hundreds of lives there. Thousands are missing. Hundreds of thousands of families are displaced,” Sedera said. “A lot of our extended family have been affected because this is one thing that has affected the entire country, not a part of the country.”
Local officials report that some communities hit by landslides and flash floods remain unreachable. Officials warn that the true death toll will become clear only after waters recede and rescue teams reach cut-off areas.
Sedera says Las Vegas has proved to be a generous city in the past, with community members helping Sri Lankans overcome previous natural disasters.
“As Sri Lankans abroad, we cannot sit by while our families and countrymen face this unimaginable devastation,” Sedera said. “If global aid is delayed, then it is our responsibility—out of love, duty, and humanity—to act with urgency.”
Sunday’s vigil also served as the launch of their fundraiser to aid the people of Sri Lanka. Sedera’s hope with this fundraiser is to provide support for both short-term and long-term recovery projects.
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