At least three missing in flash floods; alert issued

Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka have killed at least eight people, including a 10-month-old baby, and forced tens of thousands more to flee their homes, officials said today.

“Three people are reported missing in Dehiowita area,” Disaster Management Centre spokesman Pradeep Kodippily has told PTI.

Relief operations are well underway even the military had been deployed in the hill country areas to provide relief, he said, adding that the men went missing from the countrys southwestern district of Kegalle.

Rains lashed the country throughout yesterday, flooding most of the roads in Colombo. Besides, several roads have been cut off due to floods with the Sri Lanka Red Cross saying its employees have been placed on alert to assist anyone who may be affected by the bad weather.

Katunayake, just outside Colombo, had recorded the highest rain fall, over 260 millimeters between 0830 hours Sunday to 0530 Hrs Monday, Meteorology Department said. However the rains were to ease somewhat today.

“The low pressure area is moving away from Sri Lanka so the rainy conditions over the island will be reduced to some extent, but strong wind conditions will continue for a few more days,” Malinda Millagoda, a meteorologist said.

-Agencies