Deep Depression Near Trincomalee Set to Intensify into Cyclonic Storm: Heavy Rainfall and Strong Winds Disrupt Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Meteorology said that the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to move closer to the east coast of Sri Lanka and intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours.

Meanwhile, the deep and shallow sea areas around the island will be rough to very rough as the wind speed can be increased up to (60-70) kmph at times. Very heavy showers or thundershowers are likely at some places areas around the island.

Naval and fishing communities are warned not to venture to the deep and shallow sea areas around the island until further notice.

The Northern, North Central, Central, Western, and North Western provinces, as well as the Trincomalee and Kegalle districts, have been significantly affected due to heavy showers.

Four people have lost their lives due to the adverse weather conditions.

A total of 230,743 people from 66,947 families across 18 districts have been affected.

Six people have been reported missing, while an additional nine people have been injured in various incidents related to the inclement weather.

Retired Major General Udaya Herath, the Director General of the Disaster Management Center said that any emergency situations can be reported to the Disaster Management Center through the emergency hotline number 117.

Meanwhile, several reservoirs are overflowing, and warnings have been issued urging people living in low-lying areas to exercise extreme caution as well.

The National Building Research Organization has also issued landslide warnings to several divisional secretariats in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Badulla, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Colombo, and Gampaha districts.