COLOMBO – Floods caused by days of torrential rains have displaced over 100,000 people in Sri Lanka while killing 23 others, latest government data said on Friday as relief work continues.
The country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 26,688 families, comprising 109,075 people, had been affected by the rain, floods and landslides as of Friday.
It added that at least 23 people were killed and one person remains missing.
“Over 40 houses have been completely destroyed due to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in six districts, while another 101 homes have been partially damaged.
“Most of the deaths and damage have been reported from the Kalutara District in Western Province and relief efforts are going on.
“We are providing compensation of 15,000 rupees (about 115 dollars) to people who have lost family members.
“There has been criticism this is not enough but this is all that has been allocated from the Finance Ministry,’’ the Disaster Management Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera, told reporters.
The Western Provincial Council said 148 schools in Western Province opened after being closed due to adverse weather conditions earlier in the week.
Reports say President Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted on Monday that he had instructed his officials to expedite relief measures to communities affected by the bad weather.
Security forces and police have initiated flood relief measures to rescue people trapped or marooned due to rising water levels and roads being inundated.(Xinhua/NAN)
