Severe flooding and landslides challenge Sri Lanka’s Puttalam district as satellite imagery reveals dramatic landscape changes

Severe weather conditions have led to significant challenges in the Puttalam district of North Western Sri Lanka, where intense monsoon rains have resulted in widespread flooding, landslides, and rockfalls. Satellite imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, taken on November 30, 2025, reveals the dramatic changes in the landscape over the past month. The recent images use a false-color technique that highlights various aspects of the scene—sediment appears in shades of green and brown, while clearer water is depicted in dark blue or black, and vegetation is represented in red.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 initiative employs a pair of identical satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 786 kilometers. These satellites are designed to capture high-resolution multispectral images using a sophisticated imager that analyzes 13 spectral bands. Passing over the same location every five days, they are a vital resource for monitoring environmental changes and natural disasters, often aiding in emergency response efforts.

This year’s activation of the Disasters Charter—marking its 25th anniversary—underscores the increasing reliance on satellite data to assist in disaster management, particularly in response to the escalating climate challenges faced by regions like Sri Lanka. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission’s contribution in providing critical information during such crises continues to prove invaluable for supporting timely and effective responses to disasters.