Flooding affects more than 5500 in Galle and Matara; rains expected until tomorrow

Flash floods have affected more than 5500 people in the Galle and Matara districts, as heavy rains are expected to batter the country until tomorrow (Sept 25) night.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, 5199 persons had been affected in the Galle district while 340 had been affected in Matara. Further, 152 houses have been damaged partially while 12 had been fully damaged due to the inclement weather since Sunday.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation issued landslide evacuation warnings to the residents of the Kalutara and Galle districts last night.

Warnings had been issued to the residents of the Bulathsinhala, Walallawita, Matugama, and Agalawatta divisional secretariats in Kalutara, and the Elpitiya, Niyagama, Nagoda, Imaduwa and Baddegama divisional secretariats in Galle.

Landslide alert warnings which had been issued to the Kegalle, Ratnapura, and Matara districts continue to be in effect.

The Meteorological Department has predicted that the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces could receive more than 200mm (nearly eight inches) of rainfall today.

Today’s weather forecast also predicted showers exceeding 100mm in the North Western, Northern, Uva and Eastern Provinces.

Fishermen and the naval communities have also been warned of wind speeds which could clock between 70 - 80 kmph in the Western, Southern, and South Eastern sea areas for the next 24 hours.

The sea area extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and from Puttalam to Kankasanturai through Mannar can be rough at times with wind speeds ranging between 50 - 55 kmph, the Met. Department cautioned.

Against this backdrop, the Irrigation Department has raised cautions of rising water levels in the Kalu, Gin, and Nilwala rivers. The Department today warned that a “major flooding” could occur in the Panadugama area due to rising water levels of the Nilwala river.

In addition, minor flood warnings have been issued to the Millakanda and Baddegama areas due to rising water levels of the Kalu and Gin rivers respectively.