- Over 45, 344 people affected
- 2, 797 houses damaged
- Landslide warning for 10 districts
At least seven people have been confirmed dead and another 13 injured and over 45,344 people have been affected as the ongoing inclement weather continued to sweep across most parts of the country, officials said yesterday.
They said those dead and injured were mainly hit by falling trees and the public have been advised to take extreme caution at all times when on the road or elsewhere since such incidents take place suddenly unlike flash floods and landslides where early warnings could be sent out.
Apart from those dead and injured 45,344 people from 12,197 families have been affected while 2,797 houses have been damaged largely by falling trees and gale-force winds, an official of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
In the light of the developing situation, State Minister for Defence Premitha Bandara Tenakoon summoned a meeting of disaster management officials on Friday where relief plans were discussed along with precautions that will have to be taken should the inclement weather remain the same, MoD Spokesman Col. Nalin Herath told the Sunday Observer.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has placed ten districts on a Level One warning of possible landslides.
The districts are Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura and according to officials these areas are being constantly monitored while residents have also been warned.
The Irrigation Department has warned of possible flash floods in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.
Director of Irrigation, Hydrology and Disaster Management Division, S. P. C Sugeeshwara said officials were monitoring the water levels at most major rivers and other open water bodies on a 24-hour basis.
In a statment, the Department of Meteorology has issued a ‘red’ warning for naval and fisher communities regarding strong winds and rough seas in the deep-sea areas in the South-Eastern Arabian Sea and in the Bay of Bengal.
The statment said that a low-pressure area over south west Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression.
It is likely to continue to move Northeastwards and concentrate into a cyclonic storm over East-Central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is likely to move Northwards, intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the same region, the statment added.
Strong winds with speeds of up to 60-70 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall are likely over the sea areas around the country and over the South-Eastern Arabian Sea areas and the Bay of Bengal.
Those who are out at sea have been advised to return to the coast or move to safer areas immediately.
Naval and fishing communities have been called upon to be alert to future forecasts.
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Three SLAF helicopters on alert
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has placed three helicopters on alert to respond to any emergencies arising from the adverse weather throughout the country, Air Force Media Spokesperson Group Captain Dashan Wijesinghe said yesterday.
Rescue teams are ready to respond immediately to any emergency situation, he said.
These teams will swiftly reach any affected area and the helicopters will be sent for rescue operations, he said.
The helicopters are based at the Katunayake, Ratmalana and Hingurakgoda Air Force bases.
The Air Force is coordinating with the Disaster Management Centre, he said.
