June 03, Colombo (LNW): The ongoing adverse weather conditions across the island have resulted in at least 10 fatalities, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has confirmed.
Additionally, five individuals remain missing, while 20 others have sustained injuries due to various incidents prompted by the inclement weather.
Reports indicate that residents from 177 Divisional Secretariat divisions across 20 districts have been affected by the adverse weather, with a total of 36,504 individuals, representing 9,764 families, impacted.
Of these, 5,174 people have sought refuge in 38 designated safe shelters.
Moreover, there have been 28 instances of complete property damage and 4,119 cases of partial damage to houses reported.
The most substantial rainfall recorded within the past 24 hours, ending at 6:00 p.m., measured 377 mm in the Pallewela area of the Rathnapura district.
The Department of Meteorology has forecasted that many regions in the country may experience rainfall exceeding 150 mm today.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department has issued a statement indicating that the flood situation in several low-lying areas of the Nilwala River basin may persist, as outlined in an earlier announcement today (03).
Although floodwaters are receding in Pasgoda, Kotapola, Pitabeddara, and Akurassa, areas linked to the Nilwala River basin, flooding may persist until the end of the day in Athuraliya, Malimbada, Kamburupitiya, Thihagoda, Devinuwara, and Matara Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
As the water level continues to rise downstream, there is a possibility of slight overflow from the BR5 embankment, commonly known as ‘Galbund’, within approximately two hours.
However, the Irrigation Department assures that the overflow does not pose significant flood risks as the areas protected by the Nilwala flood protection dykes currently do not contain substantial water levels.
