Inclement weather leaves five dead

By Ifham Nizam

Five people have succumbed to their injuries sustained during inclement weather, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director/ Duty Officer Pradeep Kodipilli says..

A cyclone forming in the Bay of Bengal might affect some parts of the country later this week, a Duty Forecaster said, adding that two people had been injured and another had gone missing.

Deaths have been reported from Thunukkai, Ella, Passara and Puttalam areas. Two of them were caused by lightning strikes.

Latest DMC reports indicate that 4,391 people from 1,143 families have been affected by inclement weather and natural disasters.

However, officials said that the numbers could be higher and they were in the process of collecting data. More than 12 houses were destroyed and 634 partially damaged.

In addition, 257 people have been moved to nine shelters, according to the DMC situation report. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) last night issued landslide early warnings for Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and  Ratnapura districts. People in those areas have been asked to watch out for sudden appearances of water sprouts, cracks on walls and on the soil as these may be signs of impending landslides.

The sluice gates of the Deduru Oya, Rajanganaya, Weheragala, Mahawilachchiya, Yoda Wewa, Nalanda and Thabbowa reservoirs remain open.

The Department of Irrigation advises people living in areas below reservoirs to remain alert.