Floods and landslides -- Death toll rises to 208

The death toll from the landslides and floods has risen to 208 with 92 still missing, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

It said the death toll in the Kalutara District had risen to 63 while in the Ratnapura District it had risen to 89 as of last afternoon.

Some 677,241, people from 175,516 families were among those affected with about 30 temproray camps which had sheltered the displaced people were closed while 321 were still active as of yesterday.

The floods and landslides had destroyed 1,735 houses and damaged 9,432 while 146 schools were also damaged and 25,000 children have been left without their school books and stationery.

Water levels in Kalu Ganga and Gin Ganga were gradually dropping while the water levels in the Kelani Ganga, Niwala Ganga, Kirnidi Oya, Mduru Oya, Kumbukkan Oya, Heda Oya, Mahaweli Ganga, Yan Oya, Malwathu Oya, Me Oya, Maha Oya and Attanagalu Oya were as usual.

The Meteorology Department said showers or thundershowers were expected in the South Western Parts of the country while rains exceeding 100 mm were expected in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Kurunegala and Kegalle Districts. (Yohan Perera)