Five people died in rain-related incidents in Sri Lanka, prompting authorities to issue alerts for possible landslides and floods and evacuate thousands of people, Reuters reported on Monday. Three people were killed by lightning, one in a landslide, and a fifth person died after a tree fell on her, officials at the country’s Disaster Management Centre said.
Flooding has forced the evacuation of people in areas where several rivers are overflowing, and four districts are on “red alert” for possible landslides, Disaster Management Centre spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said.
The military has sent more than 100 soldiers with over 25 boats to tackle the emergency, Army spokesman Sumith Atapattu told Reuters. Power supply was disrupted in several areas as trees fell on electricity lines, PTI reported.
Authorities closed a 150-year-old tunnel that connects Kandy to Aniwatte as it is vulnerable to adverse weather, Daily Mirror reported.
After monsoon rains in May last year, dozens of people died and tens of thousands were displaced across Sri Lanka.
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