Floods: 24 killed, eight missing

More than 24 persons had been killed and eight persons were reported missing as a result of adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country during the last few days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

The floods have also destroyed 4593 houses and damaged further 14,649 according to DMC.

Some 1.01 million people belonging to 281,767 families in 22 districts had been affected by the floods according to the latest figures by the Department of Meteorology.

Several roads had become impassable. The Polonnaruwa-Batticloa Road was closed at Manampitiya, while Somawathiya, Sungawala-Welimada and Ampitiya were impassable and was closed.

In addition Mannar Silavathurai, Puttlam Road, was closed for light vehicles.

People in and around Muttur and Somapura were evacuated as the water level in Mavilaru was rising.(Yohan Perera and Sandun A Jayasekera)