Flood situation improving

Wednesday, 1 June 2011 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shezna Shums

Over 30,000 people are still affected by the excessive rains. However the situation is said to be normalising now. The Disaster Management Centre yesterday (31 May) recorded a total of 31,273 people who were affected by the rains, floods and landslides.

A total of eight persons had died and another 10 were injured during last week’s natural disaster. The deaths were either the result of drowning, being struck by lightning or due to collapsing earth or structures.

According to the information collected by the DMC 74 houses have been fully damaged and 343 houses partially damaged.

Currently there are only three Internally Displaced Camps providing shelter and food for 103 persons.

Both the Navy and Air Force were available to provide assistance in the relief work for the affected persons.

The Government is also taking measures to curb the spread of dengue and dengue breeding sites around the country.

The Epidemiological Unit as of end May records a total of 54 deaths owing to dengue and a total of 6380 suspected dengue cases from around the Island.

The Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health is now urging all health officers to be vigilant regarding any outbreaks of leptospirosis or rat fever during the time of heavy rains and flooding.

Leptospirosis mainly affects people who come into contact with water contaminated with rat urine in paddy fields and other open areas.