Authorities called on residents living near major rivers to move to higher ground and the government ordered schools to close on Monday.
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At least 14 people were killed by flash floods, mudslides or falling trees in Sri Lanka, plagued by monsoon rains, the country’s National Disaster Management Center announced on Sunday (June 2). South East Asia. Among them, three people from the same family were swept away by water on Sunday near Colombo. Others were buried alive in mudslides. Nine more people have been crushed to death by falling trees in seven districts since the monsoon intensified on May 21.
According to the National Disaster Management Center, 20 of the country’s 25 districts were affected by heavy rains. The authorities called on residents living along major rivers to take refuge on higher ground.
Planes arriving at Colombo International Airport were diverted to a smaller airport and exits from some major highways experienced flooding. The government also ordered all schools to close on Monday, after the weekend break, amid forecasts of more rain.
Last week, conservation authorities found seven carcasses of drowned young elephants, a record single loss for these animals in five years.
