Monsoon turns monstrous

Monsoon storms during the past few days have caused widespread havoc, killing 27 and injuring 35 whilst 29 are reported missing.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMS) said 772 families are affected as well as various authorities remain alert on rescue operations.

Among the dead are 24 fishermen whilst 43 boats have been reported missing.

A joint operation by the Navy and Air Force have rescued over 20 fishermen on Saturday and are searching for the missing, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Sarath Kumara Gunarathna told media.

Both the Navy and Air Force added more vessels to the joint search and rescue operation being conducted to find the missing fishermen.

The Navy added another ship to the three ships it deployed Saturday for search and rescue mission to find the missing fishermen. Another team of Navy’s Rapid Response Rescue and Relief Squadron (4Rs) has been deployed off Beruwala for assistance.

The Air Force also added a Beech King Air surveillance aircraft in addition to the two Bell 412 helicopters and the Y-12 aircraft deployed Saturday to search the coastal area from Kollupitiya to Galle.

Another body of a fisherman meanwhile washed ashore at Angulana in Moratuwa this morning, the police said.

Monsoon rains accompanied with high winds lashed the country Saturday downing trees and power lines while filling the water reservoirs to spill levels.

Authorities deployed the Army to clear the roads blocked by the fallen trees and restore power lines.

One death has been reported inland due to the adverse weather.

The sluice gates of four major hydro power reservoirs at spill levels in Nuwara Eliya district were opened to prevent damages to dams.

D.P.G. Kumarasiri, the District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya district warned the people living in the banks of the Kelani River to be vigilant of the rising water levels.

Meanwhile, Deputy Media Director of the Disaster Management Centre Sarath Lal Kumara cautioned the residents near the Kelani, Kalu and Ging rivers to be vigilant due to the rising water levels.

Country’s Meteorology Department and the Disaster Management Centre came under severe criticism Saturday for failing to alert the fishermen of the adverse weather before they headed out to sea. The Meteorology Department said it updated the weather reports around 3 a.m. Saturday. However, the adverse weather had affected many parts of the island by then and some fishermen have already set sail.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department this afternoon cautioned that southwest monsoon winds will be strengthened up to 60km/h at times over the island and neighbourhood for the next 36 hours.

It said the seas will continue to be rough extending from Mannar, through Colombo, Galle up to Potuvil and advised fishermen and naval personnel to refrain from sailing to sea.