Over 12,000 affected due to adverse weather: Two dead – DMC

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) -Two deaths and 18 casualties were reported while 12,877 people from 3,274 families had been affected in several districts due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing around the country, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said yesterday.

DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said the one death was reported from Nuwara Eliya due to lighting while another death was reported due to the collapse of an embankment at Ayagama in Ratnapura.

The persons affected are from the Ratnapura, Vavuniya, Kegalle, Puttalam, Hambantota, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Nuwara Eliya, Gampaha, Kandy, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala and Trincomalee districts.

“At least 14 houses have been fully damaged while 2,370 housed have been partially damaged following windy conditions,” Kodippili said.

He said steps would be taken to pay compensation after considering the estimated damage caused to each house.

“We request the affected people to coordinate with their respective Grama Niladhari to prepare the necessary documents to obtain compensations,” Kodippili said.

He said the most affected areas were the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts from the Sabaragamuwa Province where 4,033 people from 1,014 families were affected.

Nevertheless, he said the water levels in the Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga and Gin Ganga were not at alert level except at the Putupaula station of the Kalu Ganga.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology said several spells of showers would occur in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Western provinces.

“Light showers may occur in the North-Western Province too,” it forecast.

Moreover, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) warned of possible landslides, rock falls, slope failures, cutting failures and cutting subsidence in three districts.

The NBRO said with the rainfall in these areas exceeding 75mm, the Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura and Kegalle Districts would be vulnerable to landslides, rock falls, slope failures, cutting failures and cutting subsidence. (DM)