The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) yesterday (23) reported 42 deaths and nine persons missing due to countrywide floods during the past week.

A spokesman for the DMC also said that a total 222,699 persons of 60,784 families had been affected with 21 persons injured, while 3,136 houses had been completely damaged and 7,694 partially. There were 100 evacuation centres giving refuge to 17,168 displaced people from 5025 families, he said.

Duty Meteorologist of the Met. Department Ms. Pabodini Karunapala said that more showers could be expected over the island during the next few days and the prevailing weather will continue in the Northern, Eastern, North-Central, Central and Uva provinces and also in the Hambantota District.

She also said that heavy rainfall (more than 100 mm) was also possible at some places. Showers and thunder showers will develop at several places elsewhere during the afternoon and evening.

Vavuniya received the highest rainfall of 6 mm yesterday (Sunday), followed by Pidurutalagala 3 mm, Moneragala 1.5 mm, Bandarawela 1 mm, Badulla 1 mm and Mahailuppallama 0.5 mm.

Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)