271 houses damaged due to gusty winds: DMC

At least 271 houses were partially damaged by the gusty winds that blew across Ratnapura, Vavuniya, Kegalle, Puttalam, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya today, Disaster Management Centre ( DMC ) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said.

He told the Daily Mirror that steps would be taken to pay compensations after considering the estimated damage caused to each house.

Issuing a red notice, the Department of Meteorology warned today that there would be unexpected exceptionally strong winds in the Northern, North-Central, North-Western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Matale districts.

The strong winds may go up to 70-80 kmp/h. However, in other places wind speeds were likely to reach up to 55-65 kmp/h, it warned.

However, it said this phenomenon could be seen mainly in the afternoons.

It said sea areas extending from Negombo to Batticaloa via Mannar, Kankesanthurai and Trincomalee would be very rough at times as wind speeds would increase up to 60-70 kmp/h at times.

"Sudden increase of wind speeds up to 80 kmp/h is also possible over the above sea areas particularly in the afternoon and night," it said.

It requested naval and fishing communities to be vigilant in this regard. (Sheain Fernandopulle)