Downpours cause death of one family, disrupt lives of more than 10,000
Heavy monsoonal rains have claimed the lives of four people and caused hardship for many.
More than 10,000 people have been badly affected, officials say. The Department of Meteorology stated that showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 1 p.m.
Heavy showers of about 100 millimetres are likely at some places in Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Showers may occur in the Western and Southern provinces and in Puttalam district during the morning, too.
People are being advised to take precautions against temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms.
Four members of the same family died due to a landslide in Balangoda. Pic by Indika Niroshan Rajapaksha
The maximum rainfall was recorded at 97.2mm in Mapalana, Matara district.
The disaster management assistant director of Ratnapura said due to a landslide in Balangoda, Gawaranghena area, on Sunday, four members of the same family have died.
The bodies were found on November 14 after days of searching by villagers, the army, and disaster management officials.
The victims were identified as a mother, father, and two daughters who were aged 45 years, 40 years, 16 years, and 10 years, respectively. The DMC said the landslide has reportedly left two houses damaged and six families relocated.
Train services on the up-country line were disrupted owing to an earth slip, and the line has now been cleared. The Department of Railways said the earth slip was between Hali Ela and Demodara railway stations.
Landslide early warnings were issued for six districts by the National Building Research Organization.
Haldummulla and Haputhale in Badulla district, Udunuwara, Udapalatha, Pathadumbara, Ududumbara, Gangawata Korale and Thumpane in Kandy district, Mawanella and Aranayaka in Kegalle district, Pasgoda in Matara district, Ratnapura, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Kiriella and Kahawatta, Weligepola, Kolonna, Imbulpe, Elapatha, Eheliyagoda, Opanayake, Godakawela, Kalawana, Balangoda, and Kuruwita in Ratnapura district divisional secretariat areas were issued with early warnings.
S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, director (hydrology and disaster management) of the Irrigation Department, said that although water levels in rivers have risen and sluice gates have been opened, there is no flooding.
He said the water levels in the upper catchment areas of all rivers have receded significantly, and there is no risk of flooding.
The Ceylon Electricity Board reports that storage at hydropower reservoirs was recorded at 24.88 gigawatt hours, which was 57.7% of the total water the state-run CEB can store. The total hydro storage rose to 88.8% with the power utility ramping up hydro power generation.