Torrential rains affect over 69,000

Ridma Dissanayake, Kithsiri Wanasinghe and Asela Kuruluwansha

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) yesterday said 69,659 persons belonging to 18,590 families have been affected by rains, winds, landslides and floods during the past few days.

According to DMC reports, 6,248 persons belonging to 1,619 families are still in evacuation centres. Thirty seven evacuation centres had been established and two have been removed. Thirty five evacuation centres are still functioning. Forty nine houses in Galle, Jaffna, Matara and Mannar have been fully damaged while 2,907 houses

have been partially damaged. According to reports issued by the DMC 1,126 houses in the Mullativu district,842 houses in Jaffna district,654 houses in Kilinochchi district,108 houses in Trincomalee district have been partially damaged. The number of houses in Badulla,Wawuniya,Galle,Gampaha,Matale,Mannar,Matara,Jaffna,Nuwara-Eliya,Kegalle and Kurunegala were also partially damaged due to heave rains floods and land slides. Around 23,894 persons have been affected in the Mullaitivu district.

They belong to 6926 families and are from Oddusudan, Mariumepattu, Manthal EastThunukkai and Puthukudirippu. Around 16,419 persons belonging to 4357 families in the Jaffna district have been affected by the floods. Around 1840 persons belonging to 543 families are in 10 Evacuation Centres in the Mullativu district. Of the 37 camps established 13 are in Jaffna,11 are in Gampaha and 10 are in Mullativu. Others are in Nuwara-Eliya,Kilinochchi districts.

Around 12,616 persons belonging to 3067 families in Gamapaha,5331persons belonging to 1338 families in Trincomalee district,4446 persons belonging to 1123 families in Kilinochchi district,2885 persons belonging to 553 families,1516 families belonging to 303 families and 1689 persons belonging to 394 families in Galle,Nuwara-Eliya,Kegalle,Kurunegala,Kandy and Colombo districts have also been affected by heavy rains floods,winds and land slides during last four days,the DMC reported.

No new deaths or injuries have been reported. Relief items and cooked meals to affected community have been distributed through the relevant Divisional Secretariats.

Central Provincial Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake had decided to close all the schools in Nuwara-Eliya district for today due to the bad weather condition in the district. Sixty seven roads have been flooded as well. The drivers are informed to be more careful when driving in the hill country because of the mist.

The Meteorology Department said that the rains could till the end of this month.