Melanie Watters (left) and Janine Reid (right) are stranded in Sri Lanka
Two British women stranded in Sri Lanka are running out of food and water, according to the daughter of one of those stuck by landslides.
Melanie Watters, 54, and Janine Reid, 55, were being driven through the tea mountains of Kandy in central Sri Lanka on Thursday when the road in front of them was swamped by Cyclone Ditwah.
The storm has killed at least 465 with hundreds more missing.
Authorities are warning of deadly diseases circulating around the stranded areas with more devastation expected as the monsoon season begins.
The friend’s car was stuck in a ditch and at risk of being washed away, said Melanie’s daughter, Katie Beeching.
However, the women and their driver had to stay in the vehicle overnight in worsening conditions.
The pair have since taken shelter at a tea plantation, but are running out of food, water, and fuel, with roads in and out of the Pussellawa area still completely blocked, Katie said.
Katie, who is nine months pregnant, made frantic calls to the Foreign Office, but was told that the UK government had no plan to organise an evacuation of the women.
She has urged that there must be a plan to rescue her mum and her friend.
Infuriated, Katie told the Foreign Office: ‘This is your job,’ but she told The Guardian that the response was ‘it isn’t our responsibility.’
The friends, both from London, left for Sri Lanka on November 21 and were due to return today.
Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic mudslides and floods in Sri Lanka (Picture: Iwan Gunadi Batubara/ AFP via Getty Images)
One week into their trip, the cyclone made landfall, causing catastrophic mudslides and floods, blocking hundreds of roads.
Since the cyclone hit, the pair have been able to communicate intermittently with relatives.
The women were reportedly travelling from the central city of Kandy to the southeast.
They were originally going to take the train, but were advised to drive instead.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the cyclone as ‘the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history’ and declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
What is Cyclone Ditwah?
At least 465 people have died so far (Picture: Iwan Gunadi Batubara/ AFP via Getty Images)
Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka’s land on November 28, leaving entire districts of the capital Colombo underwater.
At least 465 people have died so far, and hope has faded for the 366 other people unaccounted for after serious mudslides and floods.
More than 1.5 million people in the country have been affected by this natural disaster, with around 200,000 people in state-run shelters.
Some of the worst-affected areas in the central hills are still inaccessible, although authorities are trying to clear the roads and restore communication lines.
The Kelani River, a major water source for the country, burst its banks after heavy rains, causing mudslides in the country’s inland areas.
He has also vowed to rebuild with international support, saying foreign assistance is essential to finance the recovery, as the country was still emerging from its worst ever economic crisis three years ago.
The Commissioner-General of Essential Services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, who is leading the massive recovery effort, said: ‘Our initial estimate is that we will need about six to seven billion dollars for the reconstruction.’
Chandrakeerthi added that the government was providing each family with 25,000 rupees to help clean their homes, while those who lost their homes would receive up to 2.5 million rupees.
The country was still emerging from an economic crisis when the cyclone hit (Picture: Iwan Gunadi Batubara/ AFP via Getty Images)
In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared a sovereign default on its $46 billion in external debt after running out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, such as food, fuel, and medicines.
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The country secured a $2.9 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Months of street protests followed after the crisis, forcing the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down.
Metro has contacted the FCDO for comment.
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Arrow MORE: Is Sri Lanka safe to visit after cyclone and severe flooding devastates South Asia?
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