Cyclone Ditwah: the activity report of the Italian team deployed in Sri Lanka is now online
The mission, activated within the framework of the UCPM, was coordinated by the Italian Civil Protection Department
Tropical cyclone Ditwah, which hit Sri Lanka starting from 28 November 2025, caused hundreds of casualties, affected more than two million people, and severely damaged infrastructure, homes, and essential services. Intense and prolonged rainfall led to widespread flooding and landslides in several districts, further worsening an already critical situation for the population as well as for transport and water supply systems.
An Italian team, including experts from the Civil Protection Department, the Italian Red Cross, the ReLUIS Consortium, Ferrovie dello Stato Group, and the Ministry of Infrastructure – Directorate General for Dams and Water Infrastructure – was deployed in Sri Lanka in December 2025 to provide technical support to the national authorities.
The mission, activated under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and coordinated by the Italian Civil Protection Department, included site inspections and technical assessments to analyze the impact of the cyclone on strategic infrastructure and to identify possible short-, medium-, and long-term support and recovery measures.
The Italian team conducted a total of 16 inspections on road bridges, 6 of which utilized drone support, and completed 3 inspections on dams. The attached report provides a comprehensive overview of the activities carried out by the team.
Cyclone in Sri Lanka / 2025
