7 killed, several missing as powerful storm hits Sri Lanka

Colombo, November 30: A heavy storm with strong gales swept the country leaving at least 7 people dead and several fishermen missing. Schools were closed Thursday across southern and central provinces and planes diverted as heavy rain battered the island.

The Srilankan Disaster Management said around 20,000 people have been affected by the adverse weather conditions which affected several districts in the island. This includes the coastal region from Colombo to Hambantota and certain areas in Badull and Nuwara Eliya districts.

DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said that 202 houses have been completely damages while over 3,000 houses have sustained partial damages. He said that relief efforts have already commenced.

He also said that 1,036 persons have been relocated to safe areas with the assistance of tri-forces personnel and the police department.

Meanwhile, National Building Research Organization (NBRO) due to the heavy rainfall within the past 24 hours, which exceeded 150 mm, has issued landslide warnings for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Ratnapura, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Matale, Badulla, Hambantota, and Monaragala. districts.

NBRO requests civilians in these areas to be on alert on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cut failures and ground subsidence and ready to evacuate to a safe location, if rains continue.