BFF-10 12 killed, over 69,000 affected in Sri Lanka heavy rains

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ZCZC

BFF-10

SRILANKA-RAIN-DEATH

12 killed, over 69,000 affected in Sri Lanka heavy rains

COLOMBO, Oct. 11 (BSS/Xinhua) – Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) on Thursday said 12 people had been killed and over 69,000 affected from the heavy winds and rains which lashed out across the island since last weekend.

DMC Spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said that while rains had now reduced,
people who had been relocated to safe shelters were urged not to return home
due to the threat of landslides.

He said people living in low lying areas were also advised to be cautious
as rivers had reached spill levels and could overflow if rains continued.

Kodippili said a red landslide warning remained in place in the Kalutara
District in the south, and people in the risk prone areas had been evacuated
to safe shelters.

An emergency line had been set up by the DMC for those who needed help or
were stranded due to the floods.

Hundreds of officials from the forces and the police had been deployed in
the flooded areas and were continuing in rescue operations and distributing
first aid and dry rations to those affected.

President Maithripala Sirisena has also ordered for the continuous supply
of dry rations, drinking water, and health facilities to be distributed to
those who were in safe shelters and those affected by the floods.

The Meteorology Department in its latest weather update said the severe
Cyclonic Storm “TITLI” in the Bay of Bengal, which had brought heavy rains,
was now located 1,200 km away from Trincomalee in the east, and was likely to
intensify further and move north-westwards later Thursday.

However, it warned that heavy falls of about 75 mm could be expected in
some districts in Sri Lanka.

BSS/XINHUA/RY/09:25 hrs