Flood Situation Report |

Flood Situation Report – Sri Lanka Reporting period: 14 to 17 May 2010 17 May, 2010 as at 1800 hrs GMT +5.30

Situation

Since Friday, 14 May 2010, heavy monsoon rains have resulted in flash floods, high-winds, landslides, lightning and thunder storms in six districts in Sri Lanka: Colombo, , , , Kegalle and Galle.

As at Monday, 17 May 2010, over 145,090 persons (35,820 families) have been affected by the heavy rains. This includes minor displacement and some evacuation. The has reached the Minor Flood Level position which may result in further displacement.

The Meteorological Department has forecasted severe rains to continue during the next 48 hours which may result in an increase of affected areas and persons.

A landslide warning has been issued to the District and Divisional Secretariats, Mayors and Chairmen in three districts: Ratnapura, Kalutara and Galle.

The Department of Irrigation has sent out evacuation warnings on the rising water levels for the four areas on the banks of the Kelani River where minor flood levels of 5 feet have been reached. They include: Hanwella, Colombo, Kolonnawa and Kaduwela.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has indicated that interruptions to power in the Kelaniya areas and Colombo North areas may be enforced due to flood water seeping into two sub-stations: Bloomendall and Kelanitissa.

The severity and early arrival of these storms are unusual as they proceed the planned Monsoon season. Further information on the situation will be available in the next situation update.

UN OCHA Sri Lanka Flood Situation Report Colombo | Sri Lanka

UN OCHA Sri Lanka Flood Situation Report Colombo | Sri Lanka

Annex 1 : Summary of flood levels:

 Kelani River, Hanwella DS Division, (as at 1200hrs) o Hanwella - Current water level: 4.19 metres - Minor Flood level: 5.00 metres - Expected to rise up to 5.6 metres in 6 hours o Nagalagama - Current water level: 5.00 feet - Flood level: 5.00 feet

(river), Palindanuwara DS Division, Kalutara District (as at 0900hrs) o Ratnapura water gauge: increase in water level by 2.76 metres o Ellagawa - Current water level: 09.08 metres - Minor Flood level: 10.66 metres o Kalawellawa - Current water level: 05.41 metres - Minor Flood level: 05.50 metres

 Aththanagalu Oya, Aththanagalle DS Division, (as at 0900hrs) o Dunamale water guage: increase in water levels by 4.90 metres - Upper catchment areas received over 300mm of rain

Annex 2 : Areas affected by types of disaster from 14 to 17 May 2010

Province District Affected Divisional Type of Disaster Affected Secretariat (DS) Persons/ Divisions Families Western Colombo Greater Colombo Heavy rains Sri Jayawardenapura Flash floods 14th: 15,000 p Kotte Inundated roads 15th: 14,000 p Maharagama Evacuations 16th: 75 p Kesbewa High-winds 17th: 65,000 p Hanwella Lightening (15,000 f) Ratmalana Moratuwa Dematagoda Kolonnawa Gampaha Gampaha Madampe Spilling of Kadupiti Oya Divulapitiya 15th: 16,410 p Attanagalle Flood 17th : 59,785 p

UN OCHA Sri Lanka Flood Situation Report Colombo | Sri Lanka

Ja-Ela Inundated roads (15,065 f)

Kelaniya Deaths: 05 Mahara Wattala Dompe Biyagama Katana Negombo Minuwangoda Kelaniya Kalutara Kalutara Floods Kukuleganga Mathugama Landslide vulnerability reservoir two Bandaragama Inundated roads gates opened. Palindanuwara 17th: 16,000 p Millaniya (4,311 f) Walallawita Dodangoda North West Puttalam Chilawa High-winds 17th: 275 p Ambakandawila (100 f) Kurunegala Pannala Flood 17th: 130 p Udubadduwa (44 f) Sabaragamuwa Ratanapura Kalawana Flood Ehaliyagoda Landslides Kegalle Dehiowita Heavy rain Earth slips South Galle Habaraduwa Flood 17th: 3,900 p Lightening (1,300 f) Hambantota Uva Moneragala Habaraluwewa Lightening 05 persons (02 deaths, 03 hospitalised)

Note: Due to change in rain and flood inundation levels, affected areas and population will constantly fluctuate

UN OCHA Sri Lanka