Heavy Rain Triggers Tragedy in Sri Lanka
In a series of unfortunate events, heavy rain has unleashed chaos across Sri Lanka, resulting in floods, mudslides, and fallen trees. These calamities have already claimed the lives of at least six individuals and compelled authorities to take action, including the closure of schools in some areas. The ongoing heavy monsoon rains have relentlessly pounded this Indian Ocean nation for over a week, causing severe inundation of homes, fields, and roadways.
Tragedy struck on a fateful Friday in Colombo, where a colossal tree crashed onto a moving bus, claiming the lives of five passengers and leaving five others injured. Dr. Rukshan Bellana, a representative from the capital’s principal hospital, reported this grievous incident.
Moreover, in the Galle district, approximately 80 miles south of Colombo, another fatality occurred when a rock tumbled onto a residence during a mudslide. The state-run Disaster Management Center documented these distressing incidents.
The widespread impact of these floods and mudslides has been nothing short of devastating, with hundreds of homes in 12 districts suffering damage, affecting over 50,000 people. Among them, 1,473 families have been relocated to temporary shelters.
The district of Matara, located along the coastline, has borne the brunt of this disaster, with the majority of its territory submerged for more than a week. In response to the rising waters and the looming threat of landslides, authorities have taken the precautionary measure of closing schools in Matara.