Floods kill 42, displace over 200,000

Monday, 24 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Adverse weather in several parts of the country, including floods and landslides, has killed 42 people and displaced over 200,000. Sources said that nine people have been reported missing and 21 injured. Around 60,784 families or 222,699 people are displaced, of which 17,000 are in 100 evacuation centres.

Floods have submerged seven out of the nine provinces – Central, North Central, North Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Eastern. The flooding and landslides had fully damaged 1,442 houses and partially damaged another 4,879 houses.

The Government said relief for those affected is being rushed to affected areas. Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that an allowance of Rs. 15,000 will be paid for the funerals of each who were killed by the disasters.

The Government under a directive of the President has allocated Rs. 100 million to pay compensation to the owners of the houses damaged by the adverse weather. The Government has decided to pay a compensation of Rs. 100,000 to a family for a house that has been totally damaged and Rs. 50,000 for a partly damaged house.

The Ministry Of Economic Development will also implement a program to pay compensation to crops damaged by heavy rain and floods. The Government has also drawn up a program to provide cooked meals and dry rations as well as to meet the health needs of the affected people.

Spilling at the major water reservoirs of Kalawewa, Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa and Mahakanadarawa in Anuradhapura are continuing, although according to the Irrigation Department, spill levels are reducing in all tanks. Additionally 54 small tanks are spilling at the moment, the DMC said.