Details of Disaster Information


Sri Lanka : Flood : 1999/04
GLIDE: FL-1999-000161-LKA  DRR & Disaster Information

Duration 1999/04
Country
   or
District
Sri Lanka
Name Flood
Outline A torrential rains caused flood in Sri Lanka.
Six People are killed by landslide and thunderstroke.
200,000 people were left homeless following torrential rains continuing since 19 April in the Western and Southern administrative districts.

Headline(Source, Date)
Personal Injury Material Damage Others
Sri Lanka: Floods and storms Information Bulletin No. 1
The number of homeless are around 75,000 families (the average family in Sri Lanka consists of five members). Roads inundated and power and telephone lines damaged. Thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed.
OCHA Situation Report No. 1 1999/04/26
200,000 people were left homeless following torrential rains continuing since 19 April in the Western and Southern administrative districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle and Matara on 19 April. Six persons were reportedly killed. Estimated number of affected families 73,948. The train service from Colombo to Kandy was totally disrupted when a huge rock crashed into the rail track during heavy showers on 20 April.

News source Sri Lanka floods subside as rains ease(CNN 1999/04/22)
At least 5 people killed.Three people were killed in landslides and two died after being struck by lightning. Some 200,000 people became homeless. It was still too early to assess the full impact of the rain and floods on crops, or estimate the cost of the damage. Floods are subsiding. But the meteorology department warned that the persistent thunderstorms that have lashed the southern and central parts of the country since Monday would continue.

Related Links
Report/Articles
Geographycal Data Information
Emergency Relief Information
  • IFRC 1999/04/09
    The Social Services Department and other Government agencies provide cooked food for the first three days and then dry rations for approximately seven days to those who have lost their homes and/ or are temporarily housed.
  • OCHA Situation Report No. 1 1999/04/26
    The Navy has deployed seven boats to assist in relief operations, and the Air Force will carry out reconnaissance missions in flood-affected areas to identify locations requiring rescue operations and other forms of assistance.