World

Three people drown as Sri Lanka hit by flooding

Schools have been closed in and around the capital Colombo following heavy rains.

A man reaches for a safe place as it rains in a flooded street in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
A man reaches for a safe place as it rains in a flooded street in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP) (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Sri Lanka closed schools in the capital Colombo and suburbs on Monday as heavy rains triggered floods in many parts of the island nation.

Heavy downpours over the weekend have wreaked havoc in many parts of the country, flooding homes, fields and roads.

Three people drowned, while some 134,000 people have been affected by flooding, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre.

People wade through a submerged street in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
People wade through a submerged street in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP) (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

The centre said rains and floods have damaged 240 houses and nearly 7,000 people have been evacuated. Authorities have cut electricity in some areas as a precaution.

Navy and army troops have been deployed to rescue victims and provide food and other essentials.

Join the Irish News Whatsapp channel

Local television channels showed flooded towns in the suburbs of Colombo. In some areas, waters reached the roofs of houses and shops.

Sri Lanka has been grappling with severe weather conditions since May, mostly caused by heavy monsoon rains. In June, 16 people died due to floods and mudslides.