Monsoon may
cause natural disasters
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
Heavy rains and strong winds are forecast in the forthcoming weeks
as the south-west monsoon sets in, Met Department officials warned
yesterday.
They said the rains will mostly affect the south-west quarter of
the island.
“There is a possibility of floods, landslides and mudslides
in vulnerable places in the country. Overcast skies and fairly widespread
rain could also be experienced in the south-west quarter particularly
during the onset of the monsoon,” a Met. Department official
said. The special weather advisory issued on Thursday said heavy
rain can be expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and
along the western slopes of hills in the Central Province and in
the Galle and Matara districts during the next three weeks. It also
said strong winds will also occur at times in the Sabaragamuwa,
Western, Southern and Central provinces.
“Though thunder storms and lightning are not much common at
the beginning of the south-west monsoon people should be watchful
and cautious,” Met. Department Director General G.P.H.Dharmaratne
said. Deputy Director M.H.Kariyawasam of the National Meteorological
Centre clock said the centre is in contact with the Ministry of
Disaster Management.
“A number of places in the Kegalle, Ratnapura and Kandy districts
and some areas in Kalutara in the Western Province and in the Southern
Province are prone to landslides if the monsoon showers continue,”
he said.
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