Sri Lanka’s Death Toll Reaches 166 Following Monsoons

The death toll from the devastating floods and landslips, which hit Sri Lanka, has increased to 166 with 104 people still reported missing.

The death toll reached 166 on Sunday following torrential southwestern monsoons causing mudslides and severe flooding in Sri Lanka, as rescuers continue to look for those 102 listed as missing, in seven severely affected districts.

With a total of 422,299 persons (114,124 families) affected by inclement weather, 101,638 persons (24,603 families) are living in 319 temporary shelters, according to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center, the central body coordinating relief operations.

A source from the Indian High Commission in Colombo said Indian diving teams have joined the Sri Lankan rescue operations with rubber inflatable craft while the vessel’s Chetak helicopter is capable of undertaking search and rescue mission by air.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department has predicted thunder showers in the coming days, and fresh warnings have been issued to people living close to the island’s main rivers to immediately evacuate.

Met warns of strong winds

People residing in low-lying areas towards southern Sri Lanka were advised to evacuate due to the threat of rivers overflowing as the Meteorology Department on Monday warned of more rains followed by strong winds.

The Meteorology Department said that the depression in the east central Bay of Bengal had intensified in to a Cyclonic storm “MORA” but was now further moving away from the island.

Under its influence cloudy skies, windy and showery conditions are expected over the country, the Department has warned.