At least seven people have been killed after landslides and flash floods triggered by persistent heavy rainfall struck central and mountainous regions of Sri Lanka. The government has temporarily closed all educational institutions in affected areas as flooding disrupted daily life, while the military and navy have been deployed to rescue stranded residents.
Pradeep Kodippili, spokesperson for Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), said five people were killed after two houses collapsed in a landslide in central Sri Lanka. Two others died in separate flood-related incidents, while several people were reported injured.
Authorities said at least 129 houses have been damaged and around 3,500 people have been relocated to temporary shelters. Rescue and relief operations are continuing in the affected areas.
Video footage broadcast by local media showed military personnel carrying out rescue operations in flooded streets and submerged communities. Navy personnel have also been assisting in evacuating residents trapped in remote areas.
Sri Lanka’s mountainous tea-growing regions, including Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, are highly vulnerable to landslides and flash floods during the monsoon season. Heavy rainfall frequently cuts off transportation links in these areas and causes widespread disruption to public life.
Authorities said decisions on reopening schools in the affected districts will be made after weather conditions improve and damage assessments are completed.
The latest disaster comes as Sri Lanka was still recovering from the impact of Cyclone Ditwah in November last year. The cyclone killed around 640 people and caused estimated economic losses of approximately $4.1 billion, according to reports.
Source: Al Jazeera.