Understanding the flood aftermath: What Sri Lankans should be aware of now

Sri Lanka is now deep inside a disaster that continues to evolve.

- MOIZ MUSTAFA

Floods have swept through major districts, riv crossed dangerous levels, landslides have crushed homes, and thousands have taken shelter in safe centres.

With the Kelani River overflowing, the Maha Oya and Kala Oya rising, bridges like Moragahakanda-Laggala washed away, and Colombo battling one of its worst flood threats in recent history, the country is dealing with a phase where danger arrives quietly, not always with rain.

As water levels shift and families begin returning home or moving between affected areas, new risks emerge.

Most of them are not obvious. This is the stage of the disaster where awareness matters most.

Floodwater that looks calm but isn't Even after the rain slows down, floodwater remains unpredictable. Roads that survived yesterday may not be intact today.

The ground beneath can be washed out without any visible sign. We've already seen this with major routes and bridges.

The surface can look normal while the soil beneath has completely eroded. Walking or driving on submerged roads is still extremely dangerous.

Landslides long after the rain stops The hill country remains one of the highest-risk zones.

Rambuk-ela, Hasalaka, Badulla and Bulathkohupitiya have all reported deadly slides.

Kandy, which saw around 180 mm of rainfall, is still under a major landslide threat. Landslides do not wait for rain. They strike when slopes are fully saturated, and that is exactly where Sri Lanka stands right now.