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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Lightning, earthslips claim 30 lives by ANTON NONIS The annually occuring natural disaster of lightning and thunder and earthslips during the inter-monsoonal period have accounted for several lives already this year. The exact number of victims is not available, though it is estimated at around 30, according to our weather officials. The Meteorology Department has warned over the danger of lightning which would persist until the first half of May and the public should be cautious in safeguarding themselves. The worst times of lightning, according to meteorologists, are said to be between 3.00 p.m.-6.00 p.m., reaching its peak around 4.00 p.m. The phenomenon of lightning started in March with the onset of the inter-monsoonal period which would last till the third week of May before the advent of the south-west monsoon. This is the first inter-monsoon of the year and lightning would diminish towards the middle of May. Lightning hazards would re-occur in the second inter-monsoonal period from October to mid-December. But, lightning during the present inter-monsoon is said to be severe than those in the second inter-monsoon. The lightning period is said to be active only for about 20 to 30 minutes after which it fades off. Some vital tips from meteorologists for the public to protect against this hazard are: When inside houses, should not stay too close to windows with metal frames, stay away from walls and large metal objects which may serve as electrical conductors, it is advisable to stretch on a bed while being inside a house. Use of telephones not recommended. When in outdoors, avoid staying near or on hilltops, on water and in open areas etc. Also avoid riding bicycles. It is also not advisable to stand under a tree during lightning as it acts as a resistance. Lightning traverses through the tree with a tendency to deviate from it and follows a path of least resistance. Consequently, a person standing too close to a tree is at great risk to be struck by lightning. The thunder, if heard within 15 seconds, indicates that lightning activity is imminent which could be within five kilometres and calls for quick protective action. Meteorologists say that the magnitude of an average lightning is around 100 million volts with an amperage of 25,000. Many parts of the country had experienced heavy rains in the past few days. In some areas like the Badulla district, severe wet conditions had persisted for several days thus giving way for landslides resulting in death. In one such incident, a family of five were buried alive in Kandegedara at the Narangala Estate last week with injuries to another four people and damages to houses. Records have shown that this same area had been subjected to earthslips even in the past due to heavy rain. |
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