Heavy rains kill five, affects 7000 people

At least five people were killed and some 7,025 people belonging to 2,062 families in eight districts were affected by the prevailing heavy rains, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

It warned of floods with the water levels in several reservoirs and rivers including the Mahaweli were increasing rapidly while some were overflowing because of torrential rains which had already claimed four lives.

Those affected are from eight districts - Hambantota, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Moneragala and Jaffna.

DMC Spokesman Pradeep Kodippily said a large number of reservoirs and tanks have started overflowing. Sluice gates at the Rajangana, Parakrama Samurda, Kala Oya, Lunugamwehera, Kumbukan Oya, Inginimitiya, Tabaowa and Ulhitiya reservoirs were overflowing by last afternoon.

People living along the banks of the Mahaweli River were asked to be vigilant as the water level was increasing rapidly and reaching mini flood level.

Landslides warnings were issued in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Badulla Nuwara Eliya Eliya Monaragala districts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology forecast heavy rains of about 150 mm in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Galle District. Heavy rains of some 100mm are expected in the Eastern, Uva and North-Western provinces and in the Matara District during the next few days.

The sea areas extending from Trincomalee to Negombo via Kankasanturai, Mannar and Puttalam and the sea areas extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambanthota are expected to fairly rough at times as the wind speed is expected increase up to 55kmph at times.

Several areas have experienced heavy rains of 100 mm today with the highest rainfall of 136mm reported from Kurunegala, Hambantota, Kandy and Puttalam. (Yohan Perera, Prasanna Padmasiri and K G Karunaratne)