2018 Northern Province floods (Sri Lanka)

2018 Northern Province floods in Sri Lanka caused from heavy rainfall in five main districts of Northern Province including Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaithivu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi beginning around 22 December 2018 on a full moon Poya Day.[1] As of 22 December according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC), more than 45000 people from mere nearly 14000 families were reported to have been affected.[2] According to the reports two casualties have been reported so far due to the flash floods.[3] The floods receded in all 5 main districts of the Northern Province with significant damages to agricultural crops.[4][5]

Not to be confused with 2018 Sri Lankan southwest monsoon floods.

2018 Northern Province floods

Date	22 December
Location	Northern Province *Jaffna *Mannar *Mullaithivu *Vavuniya *Kilinochchi
Deaths	1

As of 25 December 2018 (eve of Christmas), over 75000 people have been affected by the torrential rainfall and flash floods in the Northern part of the island.[6] More than 11000 people are staying in 35 evacuation centres.[7]

The sluice gates of Iranamadu Tank were opened and the people near the Iranmadu area were safely evacuated. It was also revealed that the overflow of recently renovated Moragahakanda Dam which was reopened by President Maithripala Sirisena was also linked to the course of floods in the Northern Province.[8]

Background

Sri Lanka is reported to have been identified as the second most vulnerable nation in the world to confront climatic changes due to the effects of global warming. The floods caused in Northern Province is the second worst natural disaster to have occurred in Sri Lanka in the month of December, after the horrible tragic effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on Sri Lanka.

References

1. "Sri Lanka : Heavy floods in Northern districts of Sri Lanka displace thousands, reservoirs overflow". colombopage.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
2. "Over 45,000 affected in North due to rains, floods – Sri Lanka". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
3. "Over 75,000 people affected by floods – Sri Lanka". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
4. "Sri Lanka – Flash Floods (DG ECHO, Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center, Media)(ECHO Daily Flash of 26 December 2018) – Sri Lanka". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
5. "More facilities for flood affected people in Kilinochchi under the guidance of the President - Sri Lanka". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
6. "Over 60,000 People Affected By Sri Lanka Flash Floods". NDTV.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
7. "Sri Lanka: Floods – Dec 2018". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
8. "Over 45,000 affected in North due to rains, floods". dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 26 December 2018.