Colombo, May 28 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) on Monday said the death toll from Sri Lanka’s monsoon rains had risen to 23, while 75,000 people have been evacuated and relocated to safer shelters.
DMC Spokesperson, Pradeep Kodippili said out of the 23 killed, five had died after being struck by lightening while there were some deaths also reported due to drowning.
As more rains are expected in the coming days, Kodippili said the National Building and Research Organisation had also issued a severe landslide alert in the districts of Kalutara and Galle, in the south, Ratnapura and Kegalle in south central and the Central Hills of Nuwera Eliya.
“People residing in these red alert areas will be evacuated to safer locations. They will have to remain their till the red alert is lifted. We also caution people living in hilly areas, outside the red alert districts to be vigilant,” Kodippili said.
A red alert has also been issued to the naval and fishing communities in Puttalam, in north western Sri Lanka, Batticaloa in the east, capital Colombo and Galle in the south as wind speeds in the sea areas are expected to increase.
To date thousands of tri forces and police personnel have been deployed in the affected districts carrying out relief work.
More than 4000 houses have been partially or fully damaged or inundated.
Several roads in the Gampaha districts, just outside Colombo were also underwater with the Education Ministry announcing that all schools in the district would remain closed till the roads clear.
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week instructed relevant authorities to immediately provide relief to the affected people.
Sri Lanka is facing its annual south west monsoons with the Meteorological Department, in its latest weather report warning of more rains in several districts across the country in the coming days.
Fairly heavy falls above 50 millimeters can be expected at some places especially in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
“There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity,” the Met Department said.
