Sri Lanka: Floods - Jun 1989
Disaster description
The UNDP/UNDRO resident representative reports heavy rains during the past several days which caused floods and landslides in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. The worst affected area was Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district. Other affected districts were Eliya, Gampaha, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Nuwara and Ratnapura. (UN DHA, 6 Jun 1989)
According to the UNDP/UNDRP resident representative, the latest official estimates show more than 300 dead and 300,000 homeless. (UN DHA, 8 Jun 1989)
With receding flood waters, victims in the Colombo area who were previously housed in temples and schools are preparing to return to their houses. The number of affected persons in the most affected districts (Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura) is now estimated at 250,000. (UN DHA, 9 Jun 1989)