4 Killed in Polpitiya landslide as severe weather batters Sri Lanka
COLOMBO – Four people who went missing after a landslide buried a house in Polpitiya, Ginigathhena, have been found dead, as severe weather continued to affect several parts of Sri Lanka, prompting fresh warnings and emergency response measures.
Police said the landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, caused a large mound of earth to collapse onto a house in the Hatton area.
Rescue teams launched an immediate search operation, recovering the body of a woman first, followed by the bodies of two other women and a man. Polpitiya Police confirmed that all four missing persons had died.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology issued a Red Warning for strong winds and very rough seas in waters extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
The Department warned of gusts of up to 60 -70 kmph and advised naval and fishing communities not to venture into the affected sea areas until further notice.
Sea areas from Puttalam to Galle via Colombo are also expected to experience rough conditions, with wind speeds of 50 – 60 kmph. Fishermen operating in these waters have been urged to remain vigilant and monitor the latest weather advisories.
In Nuwara Eliya District, authorities said 2,331 people from 581 families have been affected by the adverse weather.
District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon said six people remain missing, while three others have been injured in weather-related incidents. A total of 1,734 people have been evacuated to seven temporary safety centres established across the district.
Relief and rescue operations are continuing as authorities assess the damage and monitor the evolving situation.
The Ministry of Defence has meanwhile directed all relevant officials to take immediate precautionary measures to protect communities at risk from landslides, floods and other weather-related hazards.
The directives, issued by Additional Secretary (Disaster Management) K.G. Dharmathilaka, instruct Divisional Secretaries to maintain close coordination with residents in areas identified as high-risk by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), activate village-level Disaster Management Committees, and relocate vulnerable communities to designated safety centres where necessary.
Authorities have also been instructed to ensure evacuees receive food, drinking water and other essential assistance, while residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to remain alert for signs of landslides and follow official warnings issued by the NBRO, the Department of Meteorology and the Irrigation Department.
-ENCL
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