- Red alert for major floods
- Many provinces affected
- Forces on standby to assist victims
Ten deaths are reported due to bad weather conditions during the last 24 hours.
Three persons from the same family including a seven-year-old girl are reported dead after drowning in flood waters at Puwakpitiya. A 36-year-old woman, her 78-year-old father and seven-year-old daughter have died in the floods in the Kekilla area in Puwakpitiya.
Police said that a flood situation had occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. yesterday (2) in the canal located near their house which had been inundated, resulting in the deaths.
Meanwhile another person has also died after being buried by a collapsing mound of earth at Puwakpitiya, Avissawella. Two persons have been reported dead after a mound of earth collapsed on a house at Deiyandara, Pallewela. Police said two youths, both males aged 20 and 27 who are residents of Denagama, have died in the incident.
Meanwhile, another person has been injured in the incident which occurred last night (2) and has been admitted to the Ellewela Hospital. The bodies of the victims have been placed at the Ellewela Hospital while Deiyandara Police is conducting investigations.
At least two persons have been reported missing in the Thawalama area in Galle due to floods, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported. The DMC also stated that an operation has been launched in search of the two missing individuals.The Irrigation Department said that there may be a flood situation in some low areas of Attanagalu Oya and Uruval Oya. The department stated that waterlogging may occur in several low lying areas of Attanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys located in Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalle, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-Ela, Katana and Wattala Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
A Major flood situations have been reported in Millakanda area of Kaluganga River and Pitabeddara area of Nilwala River, the Department of Irrigation said.
The department stated that several main roads Bulathsinhala – Kalutara road remain inundated as a result of the situation. The Air Force says that three helicopters have been prepared for possible disaster situations in view of the prevailing weather conditions. Air Force Media Spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe stated that rescue personnel will be directed according to the requests received.
Also, due to heavy rains, five Navy teams and 10 boats have been deployed to the Western and Southern provinces, Navy Media spokesman Captain Gasan Wickramasuriya said. Army spokesman Major General Rasika Kumara also mentioned that teams and three boats each have been deployed in Ayagama, Dehiovita, Kiriella, Morawaka, Thawalama and Thihagoda areas.
The Meteorology Department said prevailing showery conditions are expected to continue in the South-Western part of the island today. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern Provinces while several spells of showers may occur in North-Western provinces. Very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, it warned. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the country.
The public are requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms.
Nirmanee Igalahewage