More than 50 killed in deadly Sri Lanka floods: What we know so far

Floods and landslides successful Sri Lanka person killed astatine slightest 56 radical arsenic Cyclone Ditwah, a deadly tropical storm, swept crossed the South Asian state connected Friday.

Here is what we know.

What has happened?

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall aboriginal connected Friday morning, affecting chiefly the eastbound and cardinal regions of the land nation, with upwind speeds of 65 kilometres per hr (40 miles per hour).

Before and aft a tropical cyclone oregon tempest makes landfall, it causes dense rain. Sri Lanka saw a downpour of dense torrential rainfall exceeding 300mm (11.8in) betwixt Thursday and Friday.

The rainfall triggered flooding and landslides, successful which galore radical person been killed.

(Al Jazeera)

What bash we cognize astir casualties?

The decease toll crossed Sri Lanka roseate to 56 connected Friday.

On Thursday, much than 25 radical were reported killed successful landslides successful the cardinal mountainous, tea-growing regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, which is astir 300km (186 miles) eastbound of the capital, Colombo. Others mislaid their lives successful landslides successful different parts of Sri Lanka.

A further 21 radical are missing and 14 person been injured successful the Badulla and Nuwara Eliya areas, according to the government’s catastrophe absorption centre. In all, 23 radical are missing crossed the country.

What harm and disruption has determination been?

The dense downpour has destroyed 4 houses and damaged much than 600.

It has besides caused trees and mud to autumn and artifact aggregate roads and railway lines.

The upwind conditions person caused formation disruptions.

Fifteen flights, including services from Muscat, Dubai, New Delhi and Bangkok, were diverted from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) successful Colombo to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) successful Sri Lanka’s confederate province, Mattala, arsenic good arsenic to Trivandrum and Kochi successful India from Thursday and done to Friday afternoon, section media reported.

How person the authorities responded?

The country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) evacuated 43,991 radical from 12,313 families to schools and different nationalist shelters, section media reported connected Friday morning.

The media besides showed footage of subject helicopters rescuing 3 radical stranded connected the rooftop of their location connected Thursday successful Hanwella, a municipality successful Sri Lanka’s Colombo District. The navy and constabulary besides evacuated radical by boat.

The authorities announced the closure of each authorities offices and schools connected Friday.

Additionally, bid services were suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange announced an aboriginal trading finish.

The authorities closed respective roads crossed the state aft landslides sent rocks, mud and trees onto roads and obstruction lines, immoderate of which were besides submerged by floodwaters.

What causes a tempest similar this?

Tropical storms make implicit lukewarm water waters adjacent the equator. Warm aerial rises, creating a portion of debased pressure. As this aerial cools, it is displaced by much rising lukewarm aerial from below, mounting up a continuous rhythm that generates beardown winds and dense rainfall.

As the strategy intensifies and its rotation speeds up, a calm, clear eye forms astatine the centre, marked by precise debased aerial pressure.

Once upwind speeds scope 63km/h (39mph), the strategy is classified arsenic a cyclonic oregon tropical tempest – Cyclone Ditwah has a upwind velocity of 65km/h, giving it a existent method designation of storm. If winds summation to 119km/h (74mph) oregon more, it becomes a tropical cyclone.

(Al Jazeera)

What is the latest connected the ground?

Schools and authorities offices remained closed connected Friday. Road and bid closures besides stay successful effect.

The Irrigation Department has issued a red-level flood informing for low-lying areas on the Kelani River vale for the adjacent 48 hours, informing that the hazard portion includes Colombo, the capital.

What is the economical concern successful Sri Lanka now?

Last year, Sri Lanka elected leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake arsenic its president, who had pledged to extremity achy austerity measures imposed by his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, arsenic portion of a bailout indebtedness bundle from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

While Dissanayake was initially opposed to the IMF deal, the woody remains successful spot arsenic helium attempts to amended the country’s system instead.

This year, the system has seen immoderate aboriginal signs of improvement, peculiarly successful the tourism sector. However, the betterment is fragile and heavy babelike connected indebtedness management.