Synopsis
Sri Lankan authorities have raised alarms regarding potential landslides and flooding due to heavy rainfalls. Warnings are in place for multiple districts, with a focus on the Mahaweli River basin. Past flooding events have caused significant devastation, prompting heightened awareness and caution among residents.Key Takeaways
- Landslide warnings issued for four districts.
- Flood warnings in low-lying areas of Eastern and North Central provinces.
- Heavy rainfall expected to continue in the coming days.
- 2017 floods caused significant damage and loss of life.
- Authorities urge vigilance and preparedness.
Colombo, Jan 19 (NationPress) Authorities in Sri Lanka have issued urgent warnings for landslides and floods on Sunday, impacting numerous districts and provinces.
The National Building and Research Organization (NBRO) has released landslide alerts, valid until Monday morning, specifically for the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Matale, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Additionally, the irrigation department has issued flood warnings for low-lying regions in the Eastern and North Central provinces, particularly in the Mahaweli River basin. This warning will remain active until Tuesday morning as heavy rains persist in the river's catchment areas.
The weather department indicates that the north-eastern monsoon is currently in effect, with rainfall expected to continue over the next few days.
Typically, the southwest monsoon peaks between late May and early June in Sri Lanka, with winds coming from the south and southwest towards the Bay of Bengal.
Regions that usually experience the heaviest rainfall include the southern and western parts of the country, such as Kalutara, Ratnapura, and Colombo.
The onset of the monsoon was expected after May 14; however, due to below-normal water levels in the region, severe flooding was initially not anticipated.
In 2017, catastrophic flooding in Sri Lanka was triggered by a heavy southwest monsoon starting around May 18-19. The situation was exacerbated by the precursor system to Cyclone Mora, leading to widespread flooding and landslides during the last week of May.
This disaster affected 15 districts, resulted in at least 208 fatalities, with 78 individuals still missing. Approximately 698,289 people were impacted, with 11,056 homes suffering partial damage and another 2,093 completely destroyed.
Reportedly, around 600,000 people were displaced as a consequence of the 2017 floods.
The flooding predominantly impacted Sri Lanka's Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, Southern Province, and parts of the Central Province. The districts most severely affected included Kalutara, Matara, and Ratnapura.
In Kalutara, flooding from the Kalu River also triggered several mudflows. The town of Agalawatte reported 47 deaths and 62 individuals missing, with numerous areas rendered inaccessible due to landslides.
The Ratnapura District recorded 79 fatalities.
