Death toll from floods rise to 49

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

* Affected : 47,000

* Partially damaged :

* 25,100 houses

The death toll from floods, earth slips and other mishaps in the wake of torrential rains countrywide has risen to 49, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.

Over 447,000 persons belonging to 123,545 families have been affected by floods, landslides and strong winds caused by heavy rains. The DMC and others conducting rescue missions have so far been unable to trace the seven persons reported missing. The DMC rescue workers with the assistance of the Army are continuing their search to locate the missing persons.

The number of evacuation centres too have been increased to 181 to accommodate inmates of 4,232 houses that were totally destroyed by the heavy rains, winds, floods and landslides.

Around 25,100 houses were also partially damaged while a large number of those affected, are living with their relatives, a DMC spokesman said. Twenty districts out of 26 have been affected by the adverse weather. Nearly 30,000 persons from 7,820 families are still living in evacuation centres islandwide.

Most centres have been set up in Vavuniya, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Matale and Jaffna. One hundred and forty two evacuation centres have been established in the Northern Province.

The Kalawewa, Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa and Mahakanadarawa tanks in Anuradhapura are overflowing. Additionally 54 small tanks are overflowing. The government is providing cooked meals via Divisional Secretariat offices for the flood - affected in evacuation centres.The situation in the Southern Province has returned to normal.