(COLOMBO) – The death toll in Sri Lanka’s ongoing inclement weather rose to 18 on Tuesday while some 161,000 persons from 41,610 families have been affected, a top most relief official said.
In addition to that another 13 persons have also been injured in the extreme weather that has lasted for nearly two weeks, Director General of the State Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Pradeep Kodippili said.
He said another 8,212 persons from 3, 381 families have also been evacuated to 77 safe zones and State agencies were looking into their welfare.
Several key roads and rail tracks have also been cut-off by falling boulders and huge trees triggered off by landslides in many parts of the country and residents close to open water bodies have been advised to be alert for flash floods that could occur without a warning, Kodippili said.
There has also been power outages and disruptions reported from several districts, he said,
The Department of Meteorology has also predicted more rain in the coming days but at a lesser level in most parts of the country, he added.
Meanwhile the President’s Office said that the necessary funds have been distributed to regional officials to help the affected persons without any delays.
