The gale force winds and heavy rains that wreaked havoc in the southern province especially in the Matara and Weligama areas on Friday November 25 has caused damages to houses and properties worth several millions of rupees. “But it will take some time to estimate the exact extent of the loss,” a spokesman for the Disaster Management Centre said yesterday.
Considerable damage was also caused in the Galle and Batticaloa districts.
Though no deaths were reported from the East, around 25 people lost their lives in the South, the majority of them fishermen caught unaware at mid sea. Others died when large trees uprooted due to the gale force winds collapsed on dwellings killing inmates.
Government will pay compensation for the affected people and properties once estimates finalised. Government agents in Matara, Galle, Batticaloa, Ampara, Jaffna and Trincomalee have deployed special teams to assess the damages and estimate losses.
The situation was gradually normalised by yesterday and cooked meal still being provided to people remaining in welfare camps. However, the majority in welfare centres have left for their homes after effecting temporary repairs to the damaged houses while some others have left the welfare centres to live with their kith and kin.
Interrupted electricity due to trees falling on power lines in some areas is being restored and almost all roads in the affected areas have been cleared, the Disaster Management Centre said. According to preliminary surveys 13,265 people belonging to 5,969 families were affected due to the November 25 disaster while 286 houses were totally damaged and 3,144 partially affected, the Disaster Management Centre further said.
http://www.nation.lk/2011/12/04/news30.htm
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