Twenty deaths, over 60,000 affected by heavy rain, floods and landslides

Twenty people have died from extreme weather conditions during the past few days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Director General of DMC Maj. Gen. (Retd) Sudantha Ranasinghe said 62,247 persons from 17,481 families in 17 districts have been impacted by floods, landslides, heavy rains and strong winds.

Financial allocations for District Secretaries have been made to provide immediate relief, including meals and other facilities in shelters, he said. At present 1498 persons are in safe centres while another 3537 are in houses of relatives and friends.

“Due to the COVID situation, we requested those in vulnerable areas to opt to stay at relatives' houses in order to prevent  overcrowding at safety shelters,” Mr. Ranasinghe said.

According to him, out of the 20 deaths, the majority (13) were due to drowning in flood waters while six landslide deaths and a lightning strike death. Five persons have been injured.

“These deaths could have been prevented. Public is advised to remain in safe places and avoid trying to swim in flood waters,” he said.

Today morning it was reported that six persons have died from floods and earth slips in Kurunegala and Kegalle.

An elderly couple were victims of an earth slip that destroyed their house in Rideegama, in Kurunegala. Two other persons who were caught in flood water have died of drowning in Udubaddewa in Kurunegala.

Rescue teams are searching the debris of a house in Galigamuwa, Kegalle for two persons from the same family. The house has been completely destroyed by a landslide while family members were in it. The mother has been rescued and search operation continues for the son and father.

According to the DMC, 18 houses have been completely destroyed and another 960 houses partially destroyed. Majority of the houses destroyed were in Kegalle and Badulla districts. Jaffna and Mannar districts were severely affected by heavy rains.

Heavy rainfall to Maha Oya resulted in floods in Alawwa, Divulapitiya, Meerigama, Pannala, Wennappuwa, Negombo, Katana, Narammala and Dankotuwa D/S divisions. Police in these areas were seen distributing prepared food to those affected by floods. 

The Meteorology Department said a low-pressure area has formed in the south-east Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify further into a depression during the next 36 hours. Heavy showers above 150mm are expected in Northern, North-western and North-central provinces while showers (about 100 mm) can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during next 24 hours.

Red alert landslide warning has been issued by the National Building Research Organization in a number of areas in Kandy, Kegalle and Kurunegala districts.

Those residing in Harispattuwa, Doluwa, Yatinuwara, Udapalatha, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale,Udunuwara and Ganga Ihala Korale in Kandy district are told to be vigilant during the next 24 hours.

Yatiyanthota, Ruwanwella, Rambukkana, Aranayaka, Kegalle, Mawanella, Bulathkohupitiya, Warakapola, Dehiowita, Galigamuwa and Deraniyagala in Kegalle district, and Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Mawathagama, Polgahawela, Rideegama and Narammala In Kurunegala district are also given red alert by the NBRO.

The Navy said relief teams have rescued 288 persons in the past 48 hours.

 “Navy crews rescued 95 persons in Palaviya and Karambe in Kalpitiya following torrential rains. Similarly, another 77 individuals were evacuated as they had been trapped in flood with the spilling water levels of Ma Oya. Rescue teams reached out to 93 flood victims in Wanathawilluwa, Eluwankulama and Tharawilluwa in Puttalam to rescue them from increasing flood water with the swelling water levels in Kala Oya and Baththulu Oya,” Navy Media said.

Naval personnel engaging in flood relief operations safely rescued another 23 persons in Udubaddawa area, distressed by flash floods caused by overflowing of Karambalan Oya while evacuating 288 persons and sending them to safe locations.

The Navy has kept 60 more rescue and relief teams ready in the Western, Eastern, Southern, Northwestern and North Central Naval Areas for prompt deployment, when needed.

(Pix by Indika Handuwela)