Sri Lanka floods kill 15, four rivers still rising

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By Editor_1
While Sri Lanka depends on the seasonal monsoon rain for irrigation as well as hydroelectricity, experts have warned that it faces more frequent floods –J. Sujeewa Kumar/ENCL

COLOMBO –– Flash floods, mudslides and falling trees have killed at least 15 people and left thousand homeless in Sri Lanka as the island nation is battered by monsoon storms, the country’s disaster centre said on Monday (3) warning that water levels were still rising in four major rivers.

Among those killed, some drowned, including three members of the same family who were swept away near the capital Colombo on Sunday (2). Others were buried alive in mudslides, including an 11-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Nine other people were crushed and killed when trees fell on them in seven districts since the monsoon intensified on May 21, the DMC said.

While Sri Lanka depends on the seasonal monsoon rain for irrigation as well as hydroelectricity, experts have warned that it faces more frequent floods as the world heats due to climate change.

The DMC said 20 out of the country’s 25 districts were affected by heavy rain and issued warnings to people living on the banks of main rivers to move to higher ground.

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation in a public warning issued on Monday said water levels in the Kalu Ganga, Nilwala Ganga and the Attanagalu Oya had reached ‘major flood’ levels, while the Gin Ganga and Kelani Ganga were in ‘minor flood’ level.

The Department of Meteorology warned heavy rain, strong winds and rough sea conditions will continue until Tuesday (4) morning.

DMC said while 3,727 families were affected by floods and landslides, 641 families have been evacuated. State Minister for Defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, told reporters on Monday the tri-forces, police and the Civil Defence Force were aiding in rescue operations.

Sri Lanka Army spokesman, Major General K. A. N. Rasika Kumara said the army has deployed 20 rescue teams with 17 boats and that  25 battalions were on stand-by in several districts. “That’s a force of 8,000 personnel,” he noted.

The army is also running six kitchens to provide meals to the displaced and has armoured vehicles including unibuffels on stand-by.

The navy meanwhile has deployed 40 emergency rescue teams. Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Captain Gayan Wickramsooriya said 39 vessels and additional equipment have been deployed, mainly in the Western province, while another 60 teams were on stand-by. The navy is also distributing food.

Sri Lanka Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said the Air Force has stationed helicopters, equipped with rescue equipment and medical personnel if needed, in Ratmalana, Katukurunda and Koggala for emergency deployment.  “400 personnel are in operations” he noted adding that the air force has also deployed a reconnaissance aircraft to monitor flood levels in the vulnerable areas.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered funds to be released to the Divisional Secretaries to carry out relief work.

Sri Lanka has also ordered that schools in several districts be closed on Tuesday as well. The government on Sunday ordered all schools to remain shut on Monday after the weekend holiday, as more rain was forecast

Flights arriving at Colombo’s main international airport were diverted to a smaller airport, and some key highways were flooded at several exits on Sunday

Last week, wildlife authorities found seven carcasses of young elephants who drowned in the biggest single loss of the animals in five years.

The onset of the southwest monsoon triggered flooding in the elephant habitat in Dimbulagala, around 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Colombo.

–economynext.com/ENCL

 

Editor_1
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