Four people killed, more than 42,000 affected by heavy rains and flooding in Sri Lanka

At least four people died and more than 42,000 were affected by strong winds and heavy rains that hit the country as a supercyclone formed in the Bay of Bengal, the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center (CDMC) said in its latest weather forecast Saturday.

The death toll was caused by severe flooding, the CMC said.

More than 200 homes were completely or partially damaged and 175 people from 42 affected families were placed in temporary shelters.

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) also issued a landslide warning for several parts of the country, including the capital Colombo and the south. NBRO asked people living in high-risk areas to move to safer locations.

The Army sent rescue teams to several flood-affected areas and rescued several people trapped by rising water levels.

Disaster Management Center personnel were also dispatched to the hardest-hit areas, where accommodations were made for people displaced due to adverse weather conditions.

According to meteorological data, a powerful cyclone that formed in the Bay of Bengal is now heading directly toward the India-Bangladesh border, bringing with it the potential for major destruction and upheaval.

The Sri Lanka Meteorological Department said in its latest weather update that more rains are expected over the country in the coming days and urged everyone to be careful.