Sri Lanka: Floods and Landslides - Aug 2022

Floods caused by heavy rainfall were reported on 1 August across the Central Province of Sri Lanka, resulting in casualties. As of 3 August, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) reports 12,289 affected persons, of which 2,374 have been displaced. In addition, 3 people have died, and three are missing in Nuwara Eliya District (southern Central Province), while one person is reportedly missing in Kandy District (central-western Central Province). Floods and heavy rainfall have damaged approximately 326 houses thus far. All government schools in the Nuwara Eliya District of the Central Province closed as of 2 August due to adverse weather conditions. Train services and road transport were also disrupted. Red warnings for heavy rainfall and strong winds have been issued from 3 to 4 August across central-western and southern Sri Lanka, including the affected districts. (ECHO, 3 Aug 2022)

The Southwest monsoon activation has been intensifying rainfall in Sri Lanka from 1 to 8 August 2022, where the Northern, Central, Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka have been affected. Most damages were reported on 6 August, particularly in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Rathnapura districts due to heavy rains, high winds, floods and landslides. [...] According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) situation report, as of 8 August 2022, over 15,000 people (4,000 families) have been affected across ten districts. Further, several landslides, rock falls, and collapse of retaining walls have been reported in the Nuwara Eliya and Kandy districts blocking the rail line and main roads at several places. A number of houses were affected due to flooding in Nuwara Eliya district. Flooding was also reported in the Rathnapura district, cutting off access roads at several places where people were stranded or had to wait until water levels recede. The DMC is coordinating the national response efforts. (IFRC, 17 Aug 2022)

Since 12 October, heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong winds have been in Sri Lanka, resulting in floods and landslides and leading to casualties. The Disaster Management Center (DMC) reports three fatalities in Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Province and two injured people. More than 5,380 people have been displaced to 36 evacuation centers and at least 56,630 persons have been affected. (ECHO, 17 Oct 2022)

Due to the influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ - the region where the Northern and Southern Hemisphere winds converge) located in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, heavy rains fell in several districts during 14-20 October. Heavy rainfall of more than 100mm fell in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and North-Western provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara districts. Flood warnings were issued for low-lying areas in Colombo, Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Kalutara, while the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued landslide warnings for Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura. According to DMC and media reports, six individuals have died due to the adverse weather. Over 60,000 people from nearly 15,000 families have been affected, 439 families and 1,927 persons were displaced, and the government is hosting them in 21 camps. A total of 193 houses were partially damaged and 5 houses were fully damaged. The low-income houses in the low-lying areas of Colombo district have completely been submerged due to flooding. As per the DMC situation report on 16 October, 11 districts were affected with Gampaha, and Colombo districts reporting the most damages. Overall, 82,389 people have been affected by the extreme weather in Sri Lanka since August 2022. (IFRC, 21 Nov 2022)