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NBRO extends landslide warnings; death toll reaches 224 with 78 missing
View(s):The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) yesterday extended its landslide warnings in seven districts affected by the adverse weather, as the death toll increased to 224 with 78 missing.
A 24-hour landslide warning was issued last afternoon for the Divisional Secretariats of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya. NBRO officials said the warnings could be further extended later today, if the rains continue.
Flood-waters in many parts of the worst affected Districts had receded by yesterday.A total of 698,289 persons from 179,376 families were affected by the adverse weather, of which, 25, 245 persons from 7,131 families are currently housed in 225 welfare camps.According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), over 2,000 houses were classified as fully damaged, while more than 11,000 houses had sustained partial damage.Ratnapura District remained the worst affected, with 86 confirmed dead and 26 reported missing. More than 14, 775 persons in the District continued to be displaced, by far the highest among any of the affected Districts. A total of 407 houses are fully damaged, while 3, 152 are partially damaged.
Kalutara District was the next worst affected in terms of deaths, with 65 confirmed deaths and 50 listed missing. With more than 187,000 persons from over 50,000 families being affected, the District also has the highest number of persons affected by the disaster. There are 407 fully damaged houses, while 1,324 had sustained partial damage. However, only 1,100 persons are being housed in camps.
Matara District was also badly affected, with 44 dead and two missing, according to DMC figures yesterday. It also accounts for the highest number of houses either destroyed or damaged in the disaster, with some 947 houses fully damaged, while 4, 946 had partial damage. Much of the damage was caused by flooding, when the Nilwala River burst its banks. Over 6000 persons from more than 1, 500 families remain in camps.
Matara District Secretary, Pradeep Ratnayake told the Sunday Times that water levels at many places in the district had receded, though a few flooded pockets remained. With people gradually returning to their homes, Mr Ratnayake said the focus has shifted from providing cooked food to dry rations and other items to the affected. Accordingly, what most people needed now were mattresses, pillows, mats, bedsheets and sanitary items, he added.
The Galle District too is returning to normal. There were 15 deaths due to the disaster, while over 102,000 persons were affected, with 1,300 persons staying in camps by yesterday. DMC figures revealed 180 houses fully damaged, while 550 had sustained partial damage.