AT LEAST 30 people have died due to extreme rains and floods that have devastated Sri Lanka since May 15, state minister of defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon told Parliament on Wednesday (5).
Heavy monsoon showers have destroyed 71 houses while another 9,300 suffered partial damage. Some 825 small and medium-scale industries have suffered damages alongside 63 infrastructure system setups, Tannakoon said.
"We have deployed the military to assist the relief operations," Tennakoon said. "Boats have been deployed to help with the supply of relief."
The deaths have been reported from 10 districts, including the capital Colombo, where torrential rains exceeding 300 mm caused flash floods, fallen trees, high winds, lightning, and earth slips.
The Disaster Management Centre has issued flood warnings for the basins of several rivers from different districts as more rains and high winds are expected.
Earth slip red notices have been issued in respect of four districts by the National Building Research Centre.
On Monday (3), Sri Lanka closed schools as heavy rain triggered floods and mudslides in many parts of the island nation. Over 5,000 people were moved to evacuation centres.
Navy and army troops have been deployed for rescue work and also to provide food and other essential items to affected areas.
More than 19,000 persons from over 5,000 families were marooned over the weekend as severe monsoonal downpours inflicted widespread devastation in 20 of the 25 administrative districts that have been severely affected, authorities said.
Sri Lanka depends on seasonal monsoon rain for irrigation as well as hydroelectricity, but experts have warned that it faces more frequent floods as the world heats due to climate change.
Sri Lanka's main weather bureau forecast an easing of rains but said the threat of floods had not receded. Low-lying areas remain swamped.
(Agencies)
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)