Winds wreak havoc in Bibile

Rasika SOMARATHNA

HEAVY WINDS accompanied by rain wreaked havoc in the Bibile-Medagama area last evening with around 40 houses been damaged of which five were totally destroyed.

No casualties were reported from the area although there was heavy damage to the power supply lines resulting in a breakdown. Transport had also come to a virtual stand still with roads been blocked due to fallen trees as a result of strong winds.

An official of the Meteorology Department describing the sudden climate change as a tornado situation, said that this was the result of the inter monsoonal rains which was beginning to develop in the country.

“This kind of effect is normally associated with the forming of the inter monsoonal period and would be confined to a limited area during a limited time span” the official said.

Meteorology Department sources further added that this kind of climatic change could occur in any part of the island in the coming weeks, specially during this period.

Authorities in the area had taken measures to assist the displaced by providing them with alternative accommodation, sources said.