Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc in Sri Lanka

Several days of heavy rain coupled with strong winds and lightening marked the beginning of the southwest monsoon season, which has already caused one death and several injuries.

The recent weather conditions mainly affected the capital Colombo, but according to some reports, the number of people affected island-wide could be as high as 20,000. The one death occurred in the central province.

After weeks of scorching heat, Sri Lankans were caught slightly off-guard when sudden downpours downed trees, damaged property and flooded many roads.

The director general of the meteorology department G.B. Samarasinghe said the island is currently experiencing the initial stages of the southwest monsoon. Speaking at a press conference Friday, Samarasinghe said this monsoon first impacts the western and southern parts of the country before moving inland.

Sri Lanka has two monsoons. The southwest monsoon that is just beginning lasts until about September while the northeast monsoon typically starts around October and ends in January.

Officials at the landslide unit of the National Building Research Organization urged residents in certain parts of Colombo to be on guard about possible landslides. Although landslides are more common in the mountainous regions of Sri Lanka than in areas around Colombo, officials said poorly-built structures, particularly at higher elevations, could become dangerous during heavy rain.

The health ministry warned residents of the increased possibility of waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, diarrhea, dengue and malaria. Officials encouraged residents to boil water before drinking and to keep their surroundings clean to avoid mosquito-breeding in standing water.

The met department says more rain is to be expected in the coming days, and the monsoon will be in full swing by the end of the month. Samarasinhe said this year’s monsoon is likely to bring more rain than in recent years.