A section of the Colombo-Kandy main road remains closed after a rockfall and earthslip crashed into a shop and a nearby house in Ganethenna, Pahala Kadugannawa, trapping 10 people and prompting a major emergency response.
Rescue teams, supported by local residents, managed to pull four people from the debris and transport them to the Mawanella Hospital, two of whom succumbed to their injuries.
By 8 p.m. yesterday (22), Police stated that the number of those who had lost their lives had climbed to six.
According to the Disaster Management Centre’s (DMC) national situation report issued on Saturday morning, over 800 people across multiple districts have been affected by heavy rains, strong winds, floods, and lightning over the past week, with incidents reported in Jaffna, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Hambantota, and Badulla.
The report also recorded one person previously missing, multiple injuries from fallen trees and lightning strikes, and recurring incidents of localised flooding. Several houses have also suffered varying degrees of damage across several districts.
The Kadugannawa disaster comes amid a broader escalation of weather-related hazards. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued an updated Landslide Early Warning (Level 1-3) covering several high-risk districts, including Kandy and Kegalle, which border the affected area.
Several Divisional Secretariat divisions – such as Yatinuwara, Mawanella, Aranayake, Ruwanwella, Deraniyagala, Rambukkana, and Pasbage Korale – have been placed under Amber or Red alerts, signalling elevated to critical landslide risk due to accumulated rainfall.
Authorities warn that ongoing rainfall continues to destabilise slopes along the central highlands, increasing the likelihood of additional earth slips, rockfalls, and road failures. The DMC noted that roads near cut slopes, mountain passes, and previously identified landslide-prone areas required heightened attention as the soil remained saturated and susceptible to failure.
With several individuals still believed to be inside the damaged shop in Ganethenna, search and rescue operations remain active, though teams are moving cautiously due to the risk of further collapse. Emergency personnel are attempting to clear debris using mechanical equipment while monitoring the surrounding slopes for movement.
Meanwhile, the Police has advised motorists travelling between Colombo and Kandy to take alternative routes until geological assessments confirm the area is safe for reopening. The DMC has urged residents living near steep slopes or unstable embankments to remain alert and to relocate temporarily if signs of ground movement – such as cracks, unusual sounds, or tilting trees – become noticeable.
The authorities emphasise that the current weather pattern, combined with days of continuous rainfall, may continue to trigger sudden collapses. The DMC has activated district-level emergency teams and reminded the public to heed warnings and hotline alerts as conditions evolve.