News
Seven deaths islandwide due to trees falling
Puttalam: Tragic death of a motorcyclist
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has urged the public to be vigilant about trees falling as strong winds and rain lashed many parts of the country.
Seven deaths have been reported from incidents of trees falling, while 11 have sustained injuries, with the majority being reported from Puttalam District.
A 22-year-old female motorcyclist was killed in Battaluoya in the Puttalam district when a branch fell on her. Two women were killed in Marawila and Madampe after trees fell on them, while two men were killed in Galle and Balangoda. Another motorcyclist died when he crashed into a fallen tree in the Hanwella area. On Friday, a man who went out to fetch firewood in Ragala died after a tree fell on him.
In Colombo, in the past week, 20 trees had fallen, with 10 of them in Viharamahdevi Park.
Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Commissioner Bhadranie Jayawardhana said that the CMC was keeping a check for any fallen or dead branches, trees that were leaning excessively, fungal growth close to the base of trees, and trunk fissures to minimise incidents of trees falling.
Since the tragic incident last year in October when a tree on Duplication Road fell on a bus, claiming five lives and injuring others, 1000 trees in the city have been inspected, and of the 227 that were deemed to be close to collapsing, 80 have been cut down.
Commissioner Jayawardhana also requested private property owners in Colombo to keep a close watch on their trees.
“Examine your trees every time a storm passes. Remove any trees that seem unstable. If you are uncertain, get an expert evaluation.”
The Central Environment Authority said it was in the process of planting trees in the city to mitigate the effects of cutting down trees.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said at a meeting on Friday to discuss the emergency situation, as a result of the prevailing bad weather, it was decided to introduce a nationwide preventive programme to minimise tragedies caused by trees falling.
He added that the ‘Surakimu’ programme will prioritise schools and its environs.
He said unsafe and unauthorised buildings were causing flood conditions in low-lying areas, and measures needed to be expedited to find solutions.
(Additional reporting Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe)
One of the many trees that fell in Viharamadevi park. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
Clearing up operations on Friday after a tree fell close to the Pittala handiya, Colombo. Pic by Eshan Fernando
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