17 killed by adverse weather

17 killed by adverse weather

Nearly 10,000 families were affected and 33 people are missing in several districts At least 17 people were killed and nearly 10,000 families were affected in several districts by the adverse weather in Sri Lanka, authorities said. While nearly 5000 families were affected by flooding in Ampara district in the east, 2000 families in Matara district and at least 1167 families are affected in Galle by gale, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Overall, heavy rain and high wind have displaced over 200 people in 12 districts. 30 of the missing 33 people were reported from Matara district and 40 people have sustained injuries, according to the DMC. Climate change While no casualties reported in Badulla district, few roads and bridges have been blocked as a result of flooding and land slide, it said. Flooding in the former Tamil Tiger heartland in Kilinochchi has displaced 68 people. The department of meteorology, meanwhile, said it expected the weather to be improved in the coming days. Addressing a seminar on how to minimise Sri Lanka’s disasters on Friday, Prof Buddhi Marambe, the head of the agriculture faculty in Peradeniya University, warned of the impact of increasing CO2 emissions. Prof Marambe said the authorities in Sri Lanka should seek advice from environmentalists before launching mega projects to reduce the CO2 emissions.