Heavy rainfall and torrential downpours in the catchment areas of Wellawaya and the Kirindi Oya since Friday afternoon caused a rapid rise in water levels, resulting in the overflow of the river and the inundation of several homes in the Wellawaya area, Ada Derana reported.
The Monaragala District Disaster Management Unit (DMU) issued a warning urging residents living along the banks of the Kirindi Oya to remain vigilant. Authorities said water levels could continue to rise further as rainfall persisted in upstream catchments.
The flooding follows a Department of Meteorology advisory the same day warning of heavy rainfall above 100mm at some places in five provinces and two southern districts, including the Uva province where Wellawaya is located. The Met Department also issued red lightning alerts to 21 districts and Caution-level heat warnings for several provinces, indicating an unusually intense weather system over the island ahead of the formal south-west monsoon onset.
The Kirindi Oya rises in the Uva highlands and flows through the dry zone of Hambantota district before discharging into the sea. Wellawaya, in Monaragala district, sits in the river’s middle reach where flash flooding is a recurring risk during heavy upstream rainfall events. The Kirindi Oya reservoir at Lunugamvehera is a key irrigation feeder for the Hambantota plains.
The DMU did not specify the number of houses affected at the time of issuing its warning. Disaster authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and have asked communities to move valuables to higher ground and avoid crossing flooded waterways.
