Cyclone Burevi leaves Sri Lanka with minor damage

The cyclonic storm ‘Burevi' yesterday moved away from the country, after it slammed the East Coast on Wednesday (2 December) with little damage than earlier feared.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that one person was missing, while 44,848 were affected by the cyclone, where 50 houses were fully damaged, and 2,148 houses were partly damaged in six provinces.

Authorities evacuated more than 75,000 people – most of them from the Eastern Province – before the Burevi cyclone hit the country on Wednesday.

Meteorology Department said that the cyclonic storm Burevi was moving away from the country, and hence its influence is expected to be less severe.

Highest rainfall of 279.8mm due to cyclone Burevi was reported from Akkarayan Kulam in Kilinochchi; while in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna, it was 260mm; and in Mullaitivu, it was 224mm, the Meteorology Department said.

The department also cautioned the naval and fishing communities to not venture into the deep and shallow sea areas off the coast, extending from Colombo to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai till today morning. Further, it advised fishermen to be vigilant in other sea areas.

The DMC said the Northern Province was experiencing heavy rains and strong gusts of wind, and that naval and fishing communities had been cautioned not to venture into the sea.