2018 Sri Lankan southwest monsoon floods

Last updated
2018 Sri Lanka floods
Date19–26 May 2018
Location Sabaragamuwa Province
Central Province
Southern Province
Western Province
Northern Province
Eastern Province
Deaths22

2018 Sri Lanka floods and landslides caused from an annual heavy southwest monsoon beginning around 19 May. As of 26 May 2018; the monsoon floods affected in about 19 districts, killed at least 21 people, about 150, 000 people were affected and further left approximately 23 people missing. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The death casualties were reported from 22 May onwards in the provinces including South, Northwest, North and East. [6] [7] About 4 people were reported dead due to lightning, 5 people were killed due to floods and lightning, 8 people died due to drowning and further left 4 people dead resulting from fallen trees. [8] [9] The DMC report claimed about 400, 000 people have been displaced to safer locations. [10] [11] [12] About 105 houses were reported to have fully damaged and over 4832 houses have been partially damaged. [13]

Contents

The red alert was issued to areas which are surrounded near rivers such as Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga, Gin Ganga and Nilwala River. [14] Residents who were living surrounding the red alerted areas were forced to be evacuated by security personnel. [15] The reports also stated that the rivers Kelani river and Kalu river have been overflowing due to heavy flash floods. [16] Further the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka predicted further rainfall in the coming days especially in the south and west parts of the country before the conclusion of the monsoon season. [17] After the end of the monsoon period, few parts of the country including commercial capital Colombo received torrential rains. [18]

Causes

Typical progression of the monsoon across the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka is the island east of India's southern tip India southwest summer monsoon onset map en.svg
Typical progression of the monsoon across the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka is the island east of India's southern tip

The southwest monsoon typically peaks during late May to the beginning of June in Sri Lanka, with prevailing winds from the south and southwest, streaming toward the Bay of Bengal. The areas that usually receive the heaviest rain are the south and west of the country, including Kalutara, Ratnapura, and Colombo. May is generally considered as the wettest month of the year.

The 2017 Sri Lanka floods affected 15 districts, killed at least 208 people and left a further 78 people missing. 698, 289 people were affected, while 11, 056 houses were partially damaged and another 2 093 houses completely destroyed.

Floods

The annual southwest monsoon rains started from May 19 and caused severe damages throughout the nation with heavy rainfall causing flash floods. The flooding severely affected Sri Lanka's Sabaragamuwa Province, Central Province, Northern Province, Southern Province and Western Province leaving 13 dead, 23 missing and about 125, 954 have been affected by the floods. [19]

Gampaha was one of the worst affected areas with having about 42, 973 people affected and 33, 832 had been sheltered in the area. [20] 28, 328 were affected in Ratnapura, the second most affected area in the island due to the prevailing weather conditions. Puttalam also was one of the hardly hit areas with Ratnapura as it received about 122.7mm rainfall on 23 May within 24 hours. [21] [22] [23] The Ministry of Disaster Management revealed that Ja-Ela was overflowing due to the rise of water levels of Attanagalu Oya which is located in Attanagalla close to Ja-ela area. [24] [25] People living in low-lying areas near Ja-ela were earlier asked to displace to safer places. [26]

The water levels of both Kelani river and Kalu river were assumed to be rising due to the heavy rain and leaving the Kaduwela Bridge to submerge. [27] On 24 May 2018, the bridge which connects both Kaduwela and Biyagama which lie in the Western Province was officially announced to be closed for 7 hours from 10pm until 5am on 25 May due to soil erosion. [28] [29] [30] The roads in low-lying areas Kaduwela, Biyagama and Malwana were flooded with temporary closure was determined for the particular roads. The people who were living along the river banks were warned to be evacuated following the rise of river water levels in the entire country. [31] The spill gates of Deduru Oya and other tanks were also opened as a result of extreme weather conditions. [32] Unnichchei tank in Batticaloa also reached spill levels.

Further landslide warnings were also issued to districts such as Colombo, Kegalle, Gampaha, Badulla, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya, Kalutara, Galle and Ratnapura as a result of the high rainfall. [33] On 24 May, the Colombo-Hatton main road was blocked and disrupted due to landslides which caused traffic block in the main road. [34]

Health issues

Spread of virus flu

The deadly virus flu which mainly affects the children and infants (most common type of virus among babies) was spread in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka including Galle, Hambantota, Tissamaharama and Matara following the monsoon rain season which affected the Southern region of the country. The particular virus was considered to be an unidentified viral fever initially since its outbreak and was later described to be a pneumonia. [35] Nearly, cases related to the viral fever were increased with 50 percent in Southern Province since the start of the monsoon season from May 19. [36] 14 people including 11 children were killed due to pneumonia with about 400 patients being treated at hospitals in the South. [37] [38] The health authorities in the country also warned there would be an increased risk of viral flu in the southern part of the island due to the prevailing inclement weather situation. [39] [40] Some preschools in Galle, Matara, Tissamaharama and Hambantota were scheduled closed for a week since the virus outbreak during the early month of May. [41] [42] However, later the health authorities stated that the viral fever which prevailed in down south region was under controlled. [43]

Spread of dengue, cholera

The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka warned people that diseases such as dengue, cholera, leptospirosis and other skin related disorders could spread in the areas affected by floods with flood waters receding in several districts after the end of monsoon period. [44]

Response

The Sri Lanka Navy deployed 38 officials to help the affected people due to flash floods. [45] The Sri Lanka Navy launched operations to rescue the affected people who were caught trapped due to heavy torrential rains at their homes in the Pothuvil area. The army also joined hands with the Sri Lankan Navy with starting the evacuation process by sending more than 100 soldiers. [46]

The National Disaster Relief Services also donated 12.7 million rupees to the affected 12 district secretaries in order to address the issues of the affected people. [47]

International response

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia, UN - Australian government jointly with the UNICEF promised to raise funds as compensation during the monsoon period in Sri Lanka by signing a 3-year deal between 2018 and 2020 with the Sri Lankan government for AUD 750, 000. [48]

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China - China and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on constructing tunnels to prevent flooding situation in Colombo in the future following the deadly floods. [49] [50]

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References

  1. ↑ "Deadly monsoon rains lash Sri Lanka". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Over 68,000 affected by floods and landslides". Sri Lanka News. 2018-05-23. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  3. ↑ "Weather havoc: Over 119,000 affected". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  4. ↑ "15 killed, over 126,000 affected by Sri Lanka's monsoon rains". Xinhua. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  5. ↑ "21 killed, over 1.5 lakh affected due to rains, winds in Sri Lanka". www.hindustantimes.com. 2018-05-26. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  6. ↑ "Monsoon rains cause heavy flooding in Sri Lanka". euronews. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  7. ↑ "Weather havoc: Death toll increases to 13". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Heavy rains, landslides kill five in Sri Lanka". U.S. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  9. ↑ "Floods displace 54,000 in Sri Lanka, 13 dead". www.economynext.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  10. ↑ "Death toll of severe weather in Sri Lanka rises to 8". Xinhua. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  11. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Deadly floods displaced hundreds of thousands". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  12. ↑ "Más de 50 mil evacuados y 20 muertos por el monzón en Sri Lanka". TVN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  13. ↑ "21 die, 150,000 affected by flood havoc". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  14. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Flood warnings issued as water level rises in rivers". Colombo Page. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  15. ↑ "Kelani water level risen to a flood situation, people urged to evacuate". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  16. ↑ "Weather havoc: Water level of Kelani River receding". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  17. ↑ "Weather to worsen, death toll rises to ten" . Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  18. ↑ "Heavy showers to reduce from tomorrow; Ja-ela overflows, several roads in Puttalam under water. 19 dead due to inclement weather". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  19. ↑ "South-West monsoon May 2018 - Situation Report Summary (23rd May 2018 - 1000hrs)". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  20. ↑ "Sri Lanka floods hit 150,000; death toll rises to 20". economynext.com. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  21. ↑ "Weather havoc: Heavy rains hit Puttalam and Ratnapura". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  22. ↑ "Aerial view of flood-affected Ratnapura". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  23. ↑ "Sunday Times - Heavy rains lash Puttalam District". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  24. ↑ "Water level of Attanagalu Oya remains unchanged". Sri Lanka News. 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  25. ↑ "Attanagalu Oya reaches major flood level: DMC" . Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  26. ↑ "People near Jaela urged to evacuate". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  27. ↑ "Kelani River bank erodes" . Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  28. ↑ "Kaduwela bridge to be closed till tomorrow". Sri Lanka News. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  29. ↑ "Kaduwela-Biyagama Bridge restricted for traffic" . Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  30. ↑ "Kaduwela-Biyagama bridge under repair". Daily News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  31. ↑ "Weather havoc: People living close to river banks cautioned". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  32. ↑ "6 sluice gates of Deduru Oya opened, people urged to be vigilant". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  33. ↑ "NBRO issues landslide warnings for 9 districts including Colombo" . Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  34. ↑ "Earth slips block Colombo - Hatton road (Photos)". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  35. ↑ "Disease spreading in South identified as pneumonia: DGHS" . Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  36. ↑ "Viral flu spreads to Hambantota". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  37. ↑ "5 dead as child-killing virus hits Sri Lanka". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  38. ↑ "Deadly virus claims the lives of eight kids". Sri Lanka News. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  39. ↑ "Health authorities warn 'viral fever' could spread further in South". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  40. ↑ "South hit by outbreak of severe pneumonia". Hiru News. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  41. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Pre- and primary schools in Southern Province closed due to viral flu". Colombo Page. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  42. ↑ "Viral disease in South: Pre and primary schools closed" . Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  43. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Viral flu in the South under control - Health Services DG". Colombo Page. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  44. ↑ "Sri Lanka warns of health crisis following floods". Xinhua. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  45. ↑ "Sri Lanka Army standby to face weather incidents". Sri Lanka News. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  46. ↑ "Sri Lanka braces for floods, puts military on alert". www.economynext.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  47. ↑ "Sri Lanka adverse weather death toll at 13, Showers to continue". Lanka Business Online. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  48. ↑ "Australian, UN to help Sri Lanka prepare to face natural disasters – Colombo Gazette". colombogazette.com. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  49. ↑ "China and Sri Lanka sign agreement to prevent floods in Colombo". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  50. ↑ "Sri Lanka inks deal with Chinese firm for flood mitigation in Colombo". Lanka Business Online. 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
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