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Jaffna fishermen suffer huge losses from Cyclone Burevi
Flooded roads in Jaffna
Hundreds of fishermen have seen their livelihood ruined by Cyclone Burevi, which destroyed their boats, fishing huts and nets, left more than 70,000 homeless across the north and killed two people.
Strong winds and heavy rain will continue in coastal areas despite the departure of the cyclone, the second formed in 10 days in the Bay of Bengal, the Meteorological Department said.
Fishermen have been warned to stay home due to continuing rough seas.
The death toll could have been higher if early warnings had not gone out to fishermen in the north.
“Earlier in the week, fishing trawlers and boats in the region were told to return to shore for safety ahead of the cyclone,” the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, S.J. Kahawatta, said.
“At least 2,000 large fishing trawlers set out to sea earlier this month.”
The cyclone destroyed almost 60 homes and damaged 3,000 more, leaving some 20,000 families displaced and seeking shelter.
Burevi hit Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Vavuniya with great force, causing the maximum destruction there. In the Jaffna district, 55 houses were destroyed, and two deaths were reported from Chavakachcheri and from Ponnali, where an individual was fishing when the storm struck.
Displaced residents in Jaffna. Pic by Romesh Madusanka
Many of those left homeless were accommodated in shelters but were moving out to live temporarily with relatives as the severe weather eased, the Assistant Director of the District Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Sooriya Rajah, said.
Several long-range (multi-day journey) boats anchored in harbours were damaged, 12 in the Myliddy area.
In Palai, 200 fishermen’s huts have been completely destroyed along with seven trawlers and three boats. Mr. Rajah said 418 fishermen had lost their nets in the storm.
“We have already taken the initiative to provide relief and assistance to the people who were affected,” he said.
Thus far, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has reported damage worth Rs. 36 million.
Scene in Puttalam. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Cyclone Burevi left hundreds of families homeless or in hardship in several areas: more than 200 in the North-Western Province, 120 in the North-Central Province, 80 in the Eastern Province, 60 in the Central Province and the same number in Sabaragamuwa and four in Uva. While the cyclone brought tragedy to tens of thousands it has brightened the future for farmers. Major reservoirs in the north are now full, enabling paddy cultivation for the Maha season, Irrigation Water Management Director D. Abeysiriwardena said.
“The Northern and North-Western provinces can prepare for the Maha season with the significant rainfall we have received. Also, the reservoirs were not damaged by the high wind or heavy rains,” he added.
Damaged houses
Uprooted trees. Pix by Thayalan Loha
