Flood alert issued in Ratnapura

Residents living around the Kalu Ganga including those in the Ratnapura area have been cautioned to be alert of a flood situation after the areas received heavy rains over night, the Disaster Management Centre reported.

Accordingly those in the Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Kiriella, Ayagama and Elapatha Divisional Secretariat areas have been told to be alert as the areas were already experiencing a minor flood situation.

Reports from the area said that some of the residents were already seen moving into safe areas.

Meanwhile the Meteorological Department said that the South-west monsoon condition has already established over the country.

The Department said showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces. Very heavy falls above 150 mm can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts while heavy falls above 100 mm can be expected in the Western, North-western and Southern provinces.

A few showers will also occur in Northern and North-central provinces.

Wind speed can be increased up to 50-60 kmph at times over the island with wind speed increasing up to 70 kmph at times in western slope of the Central hills, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Vauniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

(Pix by Lasantha Niroshan Perera)