The number of people affected by floods and landslides over the past few days has topped the 65,000 mark with 26,797 affected in Gampaha alone, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday. According to the DMC 67,498 people have been affected by the floods and landslides as of yesterday with 17,180 affected in Ratnapura, 2,969 affected in Kalutara, 26,797 in Gampaha, 15,664 in Colombo, 255 in Puttalam, 4,425 in Kegalle and 208 in Nuwar Eliya. There have been eight deaths reported so far and one person missing while 1,350 people have been housed in IDP camps. Earlier the Ratnapura district secretary said the displaced in the district were presently moving back to their homes. Several areas in the Ratnapura, Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Gampaha and Colombo districts went under water due to heavy rains. The Meteorological Department said the rains were caused by a storm that developed in the Bay of Bengal, which has now lost its strength. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health had warned the public of possible epidemic conditions that might develop with the receding of floods.