Sri Lanka’s Deadly Floods
Reported by Mission Procure, St. Joseph Vaz Independent Delegation, Sri Lanka
A potential deep depression over the Southeastern and Southwestern Bay of Bengal has brought severe weather across much of Sri Lanka, especially, intensifying further into a cyclonic storm in Eastern province, leading towards heavy wind and rainfall to the country over the recent days (from 24 November 2024) resulting in widespread flooding, thunderstorms, lightning and issuance of a red warning alerts mostly all over the Nation in any way.
Flooding has impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals all around Sri Lanka. Authorities have confirmed six fatalities due to floodwaters, with seventeen other injuries and six people missing. The affected individuals suffer due to strong winds, flooding, falling trees and landslides in 267 Divisional Secretariat divisions across 21 districts.
Additionally, flooding has completely destroyed more than 82 houses and 1,465 houses have sustained partial damages. 330,894 individuals from 98,635 families have been affected, while 16,553 people from 5,305 families have been evacuated to 183 safe locations such as Schools, Churches and Divisional Secretariats across the country. Meanwhile, 59,997 people from 17,635 families have moved to their relatives’ homes due to the adverse weather. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services continue, where significant flooding, strong winds, and landslides might impact utility networks.
Additionally, sustained heavy rainfall triggers flooded in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding in developed areas, is also being developed with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites downstream from large reservoirs and rivers are a subject to flash flooding even after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Flooding downpours has also deluged some low-lying roads in areas with poor drainage.
The severe weather does not fail to contribute to transport disruptions throughout the country. Traffic and commercial trucking delays occurs along regional highways. Train services are suspended in some mountainous regions and several major roads, including parts of the Highways have been closed temporarily. Strong winds also pose a hazard to high-profile vehicles. Hazardous weather conditions have caused flight delays and cancellations at the airports. People travelling within their surrounding for various reasons too face challenges and use barrels and private boats to move on.
Indirectly, the livelihood as well as the children’s educational activities too had been exaggerated badly. Extensive rainfall across Sri Lanka has led to widespread flooding in various regions of the island, causing a substantial impact on infrastructure and livelihoods as well. resulting in reduced food security in affected communities and households. The Examinations Department has announced that the ongoing 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination has been temporarily postponed until December 03 due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions. And other educational activities too had been halted and postponed.
The Sri Lankan Department of Meteorology, keeps on warning that very heavy showers and strong gusty winds are likely especially in the North, East, North Central and North Western provinces inclusively Matale and Kegalle districts. And increased or lesser rainfall amounts are likely across the rest of Sri Lanka. Warning of possible landslides in hilly or mountainous areas is also announced, especially where heavy rainfall has saturated the soil. The Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards and intensified into a cyclonic storm “FENGAL” and was located about 280km Northeast of Kankasanthurai and 310 km north-northeast of Trincomalee a today, the 29th November 2024. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts as a cyclonic storm around noon of 30th November. It can be expected that the influence of this system on the island’s weather will gradually reduce after today (29). Nevertheless, showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Northern province. Showers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Matale and Kandy districts. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island in the evening or night. Strong winds of about 60 kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central, North- western, Eastern, Central and Southern provinces.
Claretian Missionaries being present in several affected places, try their best to share and show solidarity with the people who are in need of cooked meals, dry rations and other essentials. Rev. Fr. Vincent De Paul Croos CMF, the director of VAROD in Vavuniya and Frs. Devaseelan CMF and Iresh Fernando CMF in China bay, Trincomalee reach the affected people with food items together with the staff. The major superior of St. Joseph Vaz Independent delegation has raised his concern for the affected people and communicated the message to the missionaries through the in-charge person to help the people of God in their respective parishes and mission places at this crucial time. The missionaries extend their solidarity as much as possible. Your prayers and supports would definitely be a sign of love and solidarity to the flood victims in Sri Lanka.
