192,036 affected in the North-East as Cyclone Fengal makes landfall

According to  Disaster Management Center, a total of 192,036 individuals in the North-East have been impacted by the torrential rains and the impact of Cyclone Fengal as it approaches the Island from the Bay of Begnal. The DMC in its most recent situation report notes that 129,531 individuals have been affected in Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee while 62505 individuals have been affected in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya.  The Meteorology Department has warned that the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to move closer to the east coast of the island and intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 12 hours. At 8:30 a.m the local time today, the deep depression was located about 120 kms east of Trincomalee. The Department forecasts that under the influence of the system cloudy skies will prevail over most parts of the island, very heavy showers and strong gusty winds can be expected in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western and Central provinces. While showers or thunder showers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Central, western and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Kegalle districts. Very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places. Meanwhile, rescue efforts are still underway to locate the missing children who were travelling back home from their Madrasa (evening Quran classes) in a tractor. The tractor was swept away in the flood waters. Local authortities note they said at least 14 people were travelling in the tractor at the time of the incident. The body of a 15-year-old child has been recovered, and efforts continue to find the remaining individuals. Police said that the children were returning home from Nintavur Madrasa School when the incident occurred.  Schools in Colombo and the affected provinces have been ordered to remain closed for the next two days while Advanced Level examinations have been postponed.  Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is yet to declare an emergency despite the warnings of severe weather conditions that may worsen over the next two days.