Raging Floods kill 16 people in Sri Lanka
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Raging Floods kill 16 people in Sri Lanka*
From correspondents in Colombo
June 02, 2008 11:45pm
Article from: Reuters
RAGING FLOODS triggered by torrential rain have killed at least 16 and
forced thousands of people from their homes in Sri Lanka, with some
taking shelter in schools and temples.
Flooding, often fuelled by monsoon rains, and ensuing mass displacement
are common in Sri Lanka.
"The death toll had gone up to 16 with four people in the same family
(including an 18-months-old) infant and an 11-year-old girl killed by a
landslide." said Keerthi Ekanayake, national coordinator at the National
Disaster Management Centre.
He said more than 150,000 people had been affected by the heavy rains.
The Meteorology Department forecast continued rainfall in coming days
with the start of the south-western monsoon.
There are 25 camps set up for internally displaced people, Mr Ekanayake
said, although most of the displaced were living with friends and relatives.
Heavy torrential rains struck the Indian Ocean nation's western
districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara, the southern districts of
Galle and Mathara, and the gem mining district of Rathnapura.
In March, more than 7000 people were displaced from their homes in
eastern Sri Lanka, including families living in basic camps who had been
forced to move there by renewed war between the government and Tamil
Tiger rebels.
In January, more than 30,000 people were displaced in the east by
monsoon flooding, while in December 175,000 people took refuge in
welfare centres and temples in the eastern and central parts of the
country following flash floods.
The infrastructure of Sri Lanka, with a population of 20 million, has
long been neglected because of a protracted war between the state and
the Tamil Tigers, which has killed more than 70,000 people since 1983.