Photo credit: AP
The government closed offices and schools Friday as conditions worsened, reported AP. Heavy downpours since last week flooded homes, fields, and roads, triggering landslides across the island. Overflowing rivers and reservoirs have blocked key roads, while rocks, mud, and fallen trees have obstructed roads and railway tracks, some of which were submerged, forcing authorities to suspend passenger train services in many areas.The central tea-growing district of Badulla was worst hit, where 21 people were killed overnight when a landslide buried homes, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. Four more died in neighboring Nuwara Eliya, while other fatalities were reported across the country. Over 1,800 families have been moved to temporary shelters, AFP reported.Videos shared on social media showed homes being washed away, while military and navy personnel used helicopters and boats to rescue stranded residents. Students scheduled for Advanced Level exams also had their tests postponed, BBC reported. Sri Lanka is currently in its northeast monsoon season, worsened by Cyclone Ditwah, which formed off the island’s eastern coast and is expected to move toward India. River levels continue to rise, prompting the DMC to warn residents in low-lying areas, including Colombo, to move to higher ground. The Irrigation Department issued a red-level flood warning for the Kelani River valley over the next 48 hours, and the Met Office has forecast over 200 mm of rainfall in some central and northern regions on Friday.BBC cited DMC saying that around 20,500 army personnel have been deployed nationwide to aid in rescue and relief operations.
