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Weather death toll up to 25

10 Nov 2021

  • 212 K victims in 17 districts
  • Low pressure in Bay of Bengal to intensify into depression
  • PM requests MPs to provide relief
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera At least 25 persons have died, one person has gone missing, and another seven persons have sustained injuries in incidents related to inclement weather conditions, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports as of 5.30 p.m. yesterday (10). According to the DMC, six deaths each due to inclement weather conditions have been reported from the Puttalam, Kegalle, and Kurunegala Districts, four deaths from the Badulla District, and one death each from the Matale, Galle, and Mullaitivu Districts. The injured persons have been identified as residents of the Galle, Kegalle, Puttalam, and Kurunegala Districts. In addition, as of 5.30 p.m. yesterday, a total of 212,060 persons from to 60,264 families in 145 divisional secretariat divisions (DSDs) in 17 districts have been affected due to inclement weather conditions. Among them, a total of 12,476 persons from 3,648 families are staying at 76 safe centres, while another 37,690 persons from 10,023 families are staying at relatives’ homes. Several property damages have also been reported, including 23 complete damages and 1,229 partial damages. Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for a total of 11 districts, given the rainfall exceeding 75 millimetres (mm) in many of the areas. Accordingly, the NBRO has issued level three (red) landslide warnings to the Pasbage Korale, Doluwa, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Yatinuwara DSDs in the Kandy District; the Yatiyantota, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Warakapola, Rambukkana, Deraniyagala, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Ruwanwella, Kegalle, and Aranayake DSDs in the Kegalle District; and the Polgahawela, Narammala, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Mawatagama, and Rideegama DSDs in the Kurunegala District. In addition, the NBRO has issued level two (amber) landslide warnings to the Passara and Ella DSDs in the Badulla District; the Padukka and Seethawaka DSDs in the Colombo District; the Elpitiya and Baddegama DSDs in the Galle District; the Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Agalawatte, Dodangoda, and Matugama DSDs in the Kalutara District; the Kundasale, Poojapitiya, Ududumbara, Pathadumbara, Medadumbara, Panvila, Akurana, Minipe, Hatharaliyadda, and Deltota DSDs in the Kandy District; the Ayagama, Ratnapura, Kalawana, and Eheliyagoda DSDs in the Ratnapura District; and the Rattota and Ukuwela DSDs in the Matale District. In addition, the NBRO has issued level one (yellow) landslide warnings for the Nagoda, Akmeemana, Neluwa, and Yakkalamulla DSDs in the Galle District; the Attanagalle, Mirigama and Dompe DSDs in the Gampaha District; the Horana, Walallawita, and Ingiriya DSDs in the Kalutara District; the Yatawatta, Matale, and Pallepola DSDs in the Matale District; the Walapane, Hanguranketha, Ambagamuwa, and Kotmale DSDs in the Nuwara Eliya District; and the Kuruwita, Elapatha, Nivitigala, and Kiriella DSDs in the Ratnapura District. 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, the slanting of trees, cracks in the floors and walls of buildings which are built at slopes, and the sudden appearance of springs and emerging muddy water. Furthermore, the Meteorology Department yesterday announced that the low pressure area currently in the South East Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify further into a depression during the next 36 hours and move West-North-Westwards towards Northern Tamil Nadu. The Department further warned that under the influence of the said low pressure area, heavy showers or thundershowers would occur in most parts of the island. “Heavy showers of about 150 mm are likely in the Northern, North Central, North Western, and Western Provinces, while heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected in the Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces and in the Trincomalee District,” it added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appealed to all government and opposition parliamentarians to extend their support to provide relief to those affected by the inclement weather conditions. Speaking in the Parliament, he also said that the Government was taking steps to provide relief to the affected.  


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