12 districts severely affected by the weather

Colombo (News 1st): 12 districts have been severely affected by the heavy showers that battered the country during the past few days. The Disaster Management Center said that 2 people were killed by landslides and floods in the island. 26,492 people from 7565 families from the Badulla, Monaragala, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota and Anuradhapura Districts have been affected by the inclement weather. According to the Disaster Management Centre, 11,916 people are seeking shelter at relief centres. 21 houses have been completely destroyed while 250 houses were partially damaged. The highest rainfall in the 24 hours that ended at 8:30 am today was recorded from the Bakamuna area in the Polonnaruwa District. Spill gates of 42 reservoirs of the Irrigations Department have been opened. The Disaster Management Center says that the spill gates of the Moragahakandha reservoir may have to be opened as the reservoir has almost reached spill level due to the incessant rains. Assistant Director of the DMC Pradeep Koddipili said that the residents on either side of the Ambanganga should remain vigilant. The Meteorological Department stated that rainy condition over the island, particularly in Northern, Eastern, North-Central, Uva and Central provinces and in the Hambantota district is expected to enhance to some extent again from tomorrow. Heavy falls about (100-150) mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Uva, Central, and North-Central provinces and in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts, fairly heavy falls about (75-100) mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Western provinces and in the Hambantota, Galle, and Kurunegala districts. Meanwhile, the landslide warning issued to 6 districts has been extended until tomorrow (December 22). The National Building Research organization said that the landslide warnings have been issued to certain divisional secretariats in the Matale, Kandy, Nuwaraeliya, Badulla, Monaragala and Ratnapura Districts.