Mini cyclone in Vavuniya displaces 2000
The Disaster Management Centre said yesterday that over 1200 houses had been damaged by strong winds that hit Vavuniya on Saturday evening. The winds had hit the Settikulam area in Vavuniya in the evening amidst torrential rains. Fifteen people had been injured and over 2000 persons had been moved to temporary shelters, an official of the DMC said.
Many of the families residing in the Menik Farm IDP camp were also affected by the winds. The gale had hit the area around 6.30 p.m. after the torrential downpour which had begun around 2.30p.m.. Residents said that preceding the gale there was an ice shower in the area.
The Ananda Coomaraswamy Village and the Kadirgamar village were the worst affected. 950 temporary huts in the Ananda Coomaraswamy village and 274 temporary huts in the Kadirgamar village had been severely damaged. Many people were injured as a result of the panic created by the strong winds. Ceiling sheets and other material carried away by the wind had been the main cause of injury.
Minister Rishad Badurdeen had visited the area and distributed dry rations and other essentials to the families affected by the gale.
Vavuniya GA P.S.M. Charles said there were some structural damages to the camp. She said a full assessment would be made on the damages in order to get funds for the repairs.
Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology told the Daily Mirror that the winds had been caused by down draft conditions which were a result of the formation of ‘convection’ clouds. These winds which were formed by these clouds travel downwards according to the Department.
The Meteorology Department warned of strong winds all over the island in the coming days as it was a usual phenomenon during the inter-monsoon period. The Department also warned of heavy lightning and requested the general public to take precaution to prevent any damages.