Sri Lanka: Dam Burst - Apr 1986
Disaster description
On 20 April 1986, an irrigation dam burst at Kantalai reservoir which is located 138 miles northeast of Colombo and covers an area of 110,000 acres. Floodwater washed over dozens of villages. (UN DHA, 23 Apr 1986)
The dam covered an area of 110,000 acres. Floodwater washed over a dozen villages and polluted wells. The UNDRO resident coordinator reports that 14 persons were killed and 25 were missing, 8,000 families were affected and approximately 8,000 persons, mainly children, were living in government camps and were in immediate need of food, clothing, and medicine. (UN DHA, 25 Apr 1986)