Inclement weather kills 20 people in South Sri Lanka

Matara, Sri Lanka: The death toll due to heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds in Sri Lanka’s southern coastal areas rose to 20.

Heavy rains and stormy winds that affected several districts in Sri Lanka have affected more than 60,000 people while displacing over 6000 persons.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Societies’ Matara Branch took immediate steps to help the affected people by deploying its volunteers and the Branch Disaster Response Teams in the effected areas.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that 66286 people of 16837 families have been affected, the death toll rose to 20 with 43 persons still reported missing.  Most of the missing persons are reported to be fishermen went on fishing on the fateful day.

The DMC also said 737 houses have been fully damaged while 6400 partially. 6400 persons who were displaced due to bad weather especially in the southern Matara and Galle districts have been housed in seven temporary camps.

Meanwhile the Department of Irrigation said that 10 main tanks in several districts are overflowing.

The Met Department forecasts the rainy weather will continue at least for another week.