Journalism of Courage
Sri Lanka Floods, Landslides Update: Sri Lanka on Friday shut all government offices and schools as the death toll from floods and landslides across the country rose to 56, news agency AP reported quoting officials.
Weather in Sri Lanka turned severe last week, and led to heavy downpours on Thursday, flooding homes, fields, roads, and triggering landslides. More than 600 houses have been damaged so far, according to the officials.
Over 25 people were killed in landslides, 21 were reported to be missing, and 14 were injured in the central tea-growing regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, located about 300 kilometres east of the capital city, Colombo, the government’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) highlighted.
The Sri Lankan government announced the closure of all government offices and schools on Friday, citing severe weather conditions across the country.
The country is bracing itself for more turbulent weather as Cyclone Ditwah moves along its eastern coast.
More than 200 mm of rainfall is expected in some central and northern parts of the island on Friday, Sri Lanka’s met office warned.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this weather system has strengthened with powerful winds and the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall. It is expected to make a landfall in India on November 30.
Water levels in rivers are on the rise, with the DMC warning residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground, BBC reported. A red level flood alert has also been issued for the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley within the next 48 hours, the report quoted the Irrigation Department. Areas at risk include Colombo.
Heavy rains caused most reservoirs and rivers to overflow, leading to road blockages, AP noted. Authorities closed roads connecting provinces in several parts of the country after rocks, mud and trees fell on roads and railway tracks, which were flooded in some regions, the report stated.
The Railway Department too cancelled all trains, except for a few essential services, from 6 am on Friday. Moreover, students appearing for the Advanced Level Exams (A-levels) had their exams postponed due to the weather, BBC noted.
Nearly 20,500 army troops have been deployed to provide relief and rescue operations across the country, BBC report stated.
Local television showed an Air Force helicopter rescuing three people stranded on the roof of a house surrounded by floods on Thursday, while the navy and police used boats to transport residents, AP cited.
Footage also showed a car being swept away by floodwaters near the eastern town of Ampara, leaving three passengers dead, the report noted.
