Sri Lanka’s active southwest monsoon and heavy rainfall have affected 66 Divisional Secretariat Divisions across 16 districts, according to the latest situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
According to data recorded from September 1 to 6.00 p.m. today (20), a total of 5,074 people belonging to 1,138 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions.
Two deaths have been reported so far. A 15-year-old boy was killed by lightning in the Agalawatta area of Kalutara this morning, while another boy injured in the incident was admitted to Pimbura Hospital.
Previously, a 41-year-old man died after being struck by lightning in the Kahatawewa area of Anuradhapura on September 13.
Two other people have also sustained lightning-related injuries. In addition, three houses have been completely damaged and 183 houses partially damaged.
Heavy rainfall was reported in several parts of the country over the past 24 hours, with the highest rainfall of 210 mm recorded in Nawalapitiya, Kandy. Around 185 mm of rainfall was recorded in Hunugala Oya and Watagoda in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Amid the heavy rainfall, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued red-level landslide warnings, advising evacuation, for Pasbage Korale in Kandy; Deraniyagala, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella and Yatiyantota in Kegalle; and West/East Kotmale, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in Nuwara Eliya.
Yellow and amber-level landslide warnings have also been issued for several areas in Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara and Ratnapura districts.
Water levels in the country’s major rivers have returned to normal. However, two spill gates at the Laxapana Reservoir remain open by 12 inches each.
Meanwhile, 169,071 people from 51,959 families across 39 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 10 districts are currently affected by drinking water shortages attributed to the El Niño conditions.
Authorities have taken steps to distribute drinking water by tractors to more than 43,378 families across the affected areas.
The Meteorological Department forecasts intermittent showers or thundershowers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North Western provinces, as well as Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm is also possible in some areas.
