News
Another cyclone brewing in our skies today
A depression over North Andaman Sea and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal has moved westwards and it is likely to intensify into a deep depression in the next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm over the next 24 hours, days after Cyclone Tauktae hit the island.
The storm is due by tomorrow (May 24) and is very likely to move northwestwards towards the west Bengal coast around Wednesday.
The effects will be felt in both deep and shallow sea areas from Kankesanturai to Pottuvil via Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota in the next few days, with 50-60 kmph winds, heavy showers or thunderstorms and rough seas.
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- As the Matugama-Kalawana Road in the Kalutara district came under water, volunteers are seen taking the affected people to safety. Below: Earthslip in Agalawatte. Pic by Bandu Thambawita
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- Heavy downpour in Puttalam. Pic by Hiran Priyankara
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- A vehicle passes through a flooded area at Kidelpitiya in Bandaragama Pic by Indika Handuwala
Fishing and naval communities have been alerted.
Five people were killed early this week when Cyclone Tauktae caused landslides, flooding and high winds to most parts of the island.
Almost 50,000 people across 10 districts were left in hardship and more than 850 homes were damaged mostly in the Gampaha, Galle, Matara and Colombo districts, the Disaster Management Centre reported.
The heavy rainfall has left most of the rivers in these areas at threshold level and a few reservoirs at spill level.
Almost 250 families have been evacuated to 25 safety centres set up to assist the displaced mostly in the Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Kandy and Kalutara districts.
The National Disaster Relief Services Centre has set aside Rs. 33.4 million for emergency relief purposes in 10 districts most likely to be affected by the continuing storms.
Troops have been helping DMC officials, health authorities and local government agencies to provide relief in situations already made difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Floods in Galle, Kegalle and Gampaha have receded gradually and roads have been cleared.
In Galle, District Secretary Shantha Weerasinghe said, 165 businesses had been destroyed by floods and people left homeless or in hardship were receiving care.
“They are being provided with food and other essential facilities including dry rations,” he said. “Those who are under quarantine are also being monitored while being given dry rations.
“With the coronavirus around, people were not kept in relief centres; most of them are staying with relatives.
In Kurunegala, the areas of Polgahawela, Narammala and Pannala were particularly hard-hit, the DMC’s area Assistant Director, Viraj Dissanayake said.
With the new storms coming, people living close to the Deduru Oya and Ma Oya have been asked to stay vigilant.
In Kalutara, three centres for the displaced have been set up. “Due to the COVID situation only eight families who were vulnerable were placed in the centres,” Kalutara district’s DMC Assistant Director Cornel Kannangara said.