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Sri Lanka: Flood: 1999/04 Country Information on DRR

Period 1999/04
Country or District Sri Lanka
Event Type 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.
Summary
Human Impact Physical Impact 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.
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.

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Report/Articles

OCHA Situation Report No. 1 26 April 1999
The Government has allocated USD 29,200 to provide immediate relief to the affected people. It is currently managing the situation with its own resources and has made no appeal for international assistance.

IFRC 1999/04/29
Unusually heavy rains for this time of year and violent thunderstorms along the western and south-western coast of Sri Lanka between 16 and 21 April caused widespread damage and severe floods in the south-west and south of the country.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/04/21
Heavy rains have claimed two lives in mud slides and left over 200,000 people homeless in Sri Lanka, forcing the military to begin rescue operations.

Relief Web

Sri Lanka floods subside as rains ease. (CNN 1999/04/22)

Geographycal Data

South Asia Maps (ReliefWeb)

[ERI 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.