Toll from Sri Lanka floods, landslides rises to 82

Colombo, May 22:

The toll from Sri Lanka’s floods and landslides reached 82 on Sunday while 500,000 people have been affected, the country’s Disaster Management Centre said.

While heavy rains continued to lash several districts till Sunday, the DMC said the threat of floods and landslides remained in many areas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue teams continued efforts to provide aid and water to people in flood-affected areas and those who needed to be evacuated were being shifted to safer camps.

So far, 200,000 people have left their homes and sought refuge at temporary shelters set up by the government.

Medical help was also reaching out to people who were injured in the floods, and health officials said there was a threat of water-borne diseases once water levels receded.

Search operations continued in Aranayake, in Sri Lanka’s central Kegalle district, after a massive landslide hit the area on Tuesday evening, burying three villages.

Efforts were still continuing to search for 141 bodies buried under the debris.

However, efforts were being hampered by severe rains, the military said.

In the latest weather alert, the meteorology department said showers will continue in many parts of the island and strong wind conditions would also continue along the coastal areas. (IANS)