One Dead, Families Evacuated as Disaster Hits Nawalapitiya

COLOMBO (News 1st); A 67-year-old man has died after being trapped beneath a collapsing earth embankment in the Solankanda area of Nawalapitiya, Police said.

According to Police, the victim sustained serious injuries when a mound of earth collapsed onto a shop. He was admitted to hospital following the incident but later succumbed to his injuries.

The body of the deceased has been placed at the Kuruduwatta Hospital in Nawalapitiya, Police added.

Meanwhile, the Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage Road has been blocked near the 2nd Mile Post after another earth embankment collapsed onto the roadway.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) stated that operations to remove the debris and restore access have already commenced.

In a separate development, approximately 10 families in Nawalapitiya have been relocated to safer locations following flooding caused by the overflowing Maskeli Oya.

Floodwaters have also inundated the Labuwalkotuwa and Kitulkote areas along the banks of the Mahaweli River in Nawalapitiya.

As a result, residents from more than 20 households have temporarily moved to the homes of relatives, according to Police.