64,600 people affected due to inclement weather

At least 64,608 people from 18,860 families in 13 districts had been affected by the prevailing extreme weather, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

The affected people are from 13 districts - Hambantota,  Batticaloa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Moneragala, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Matale and Ampara.

The DMC warned of floods with the water levels in several reservoirs and rivers were increasing rapidly while some were overflowing because of incessant rains.

Moreover, the National Building Research Organisation issued landslides warnings for Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Badulla, Monaragala districts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology said showery condition was likely to continue further over the island during today and tomorrow. 

“Very heavy showers are likely in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts,” it said.
It further said showers or thundershowers would occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-Central, Uva, North-western and Central provinces and in Hambanthota district. 

“Very heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts while fairly heavy falls about 75-100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Batticaloa, Ampara, Nuwara-Eliya, Matale, Punalam, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts,” it added.

The department requested the general public to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. (Sheain Fernandopulle)