Over 1 million people affected by adverse weather, 23 dead

December 28, 2014

Twenty-three people have been killed and eight others are missing due to floods and mudslides caused by incessant rain around the country over the past week, the Minister of Disaster Management Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

He stated that 281,006 families have been affected by the prevailing inclement weather condition and that approximately 1,016,395 persons have been affected in the country so far.

He stated that 4,571 houses have been completely damaged while another 14,511 home have suffered partial damage due to weather-related disaster incidents.

“This amount will definitely increase more than this. A survey can be carried out only after the floods recede,” he told a press conference in Colombo.

Amaraweera stated that a majority of the deaths have occurred in the Badulla District, one of the worst affected out of 18 districts currently experiencing heavy rainfall in the country.

It is monsoon season in some parts of Sri Lanka, but many other areas not normally affected are also experiencing non-seasonal rain.