Inclement weather continues to wreak havoc

The number of people forced from their homes due to the inclement weather was approaching 200,000 by this morning, as the confirmed death toll rose to 19, with at least 6 others listed as missing. 

However, the death toll is certain to climb further, after dozens of people went missing due to two major landslides in Bulathkohupitiya and Aranayake last night. Rescue operations were still ongoing at both locations this morning. 

The Army has confirmed 13 bodies have so far been pulled from the rubble at the Aranayake landslide site, while three bodies have been recovered from the landslide location at Bulathkohupitiya.

According to data released by the Disaster Management Center (DMC), 196,254 persons from 42,918 families had been displaced due to the inclement weather as at 6.00am today. They are being housed at 332 welfare camps. 

The number of houses that have been completely destroyed by the weather stood at 211, with another 2436 suffering partial damage. 

The DMC further stated that 346,241 persons from 81,216 families have been affected due to the adverse weather conditions. 

However, with the low pressure system responsible for the inclement weather gradually moving away from the island towards southern India, it is expected that flood waters will gradually recede in the coming days

Floods in Wellampitiya

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Scenes from  Aranayake below

 

Scenes from bulathkohupitiya

 

 

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