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Inclement weather wreaks havoc

07 Nov 2021

At least five persons died and two others sustained injuries in incidents related to inclement weather, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), even before the inclement weather experienced around the island yesterday (7). According to data available on the DMC website as of 6 a.m. yesterday, deaths were caused due to heavy rain and lightning occurred in the Badulla, Puttalam, and Mullaitivu Districts. In addition, a total of 4,391 persons belonging to 1,143 families have been affected due to the inclement weather conditions. Several property damages have also been reported, including 12 complete damages and 635 partial damages. Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued landslide warnings for a total of six districts, given the rainfall exceeding 75 mm in many of the areas. Accordingly, the NBRO has issued Level II (Amber) landslide warnings to Ella and Passara Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions in the Badulla District and Rattota and Ukuwela DS Divisions in the Matale District. In addition, the NBRO has issued Level I (Yellow) landslide warnings for a total of 22 DS divisions in four other districts. The Neluwa, Nagoda, and Elpitiya DS Divisions in the Galle District have been issued Level I landslide warnings. The NBRO has also issued landslide warnings to the Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Doluwa, Ganga Ihala Korale, Harispattuwa, Yatinuwara, Pathahewahata, Udapalatha, and Pasbage Korale DS Divisions in the Kandy District. In addition, Bulathkohupitiya, Rambukkana, Kegalle, Aranayake, Mawanella, Yatiyantota, and Ruwanwella DS Divisions in the Kegalle District as well as the Hanguranketha, Walapane, and Nuwara Eliya DS Divisions in the Nuwara Eliya District have been issued Level I landslide warnings. During the landslide early warning period, the NBRO advised the public to pay attention to  the development of cracks on the ground and ground subsidence, slanting of trees, cracks in the floors and walls of buildings that are built at slopes, sudden appearance of springs, and emerging muddy water. Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology warned last evening that very heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Western, and Northern Provinces and in the Galle and Matara Districts, with a “Red” warning for heavy rain. “Very heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts. Heavy showers of about 100 mm can be expected at some places in the North Western and Northern Provinces and in the Matale, Galle, and Matara Districts during the next 24 hours,” it was stated. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. The enhancement of the showery condition in the land areas and windy condition in the sea areas around the island can be expected today (8) and tomorrow (9) due to the influence of the prevailing wind convergence zone in the vicinity of the island, the Department added.


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