In Colombo, Sri Lanka, authorities reported that eight individuals, including six students returning home from school, have gone missing following a flood incident. The group was traveling on a farm tractor when it was engulfed by the rising waters caused by recent intense rainfall, as stated by police officials on Wednesday.

The region has been experiencing persistent heavy rain and strong winds over the last couple of days, leading to substantial flooding that has impacted homes, agricultural areas, and roadways. Additionally, train services in the scenic tea-producing mountainous regions have been suspended due to safety concerns.

In the most significant incident reported, the tractor, which was transporting 11 schoolchildren, was swept away on Tuesday evening in the eastern part of Sri Lanka. Emergency responders managed to rescue five of the children, but unfortunately, six others, along with the driver and another adult, remain unaccounted for. Rescue operations are actively underway near the town of Karaitivu, according to police sources.

In a separate event tied to the severe weather, a woman lost her life when a brick wall fell on her in Badulla, situated in the central part of the island. Furthermore, eight additional people sustained injuries from other weather-related incidents, as reported by the Disaster Management Center.

As of Wednesday, more than 3,000 residents have been relocated to emergency shelters, and nearly 600 homes have suffered damage due to the flooding. The armed forces have been mobilized to assist in rescue efforts and to deliver food and essential supplies to those affected by the calamity.

The Meteorology Department has linked the extreme weather conditions to a deep depression forming in the Bay of Bengal, indicating that it is expected to approach Sri Lanka and potentially develop into a cyclonic storm by Thursday.

Sri Lanka has been facing severe weather challenges since May, primarily attributed to heavy monsoon rains. In June alone, the country saw 16 fatalities due to devastating floods and mudslides.