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Death toll from Sri Lanka's flash floods rises to 12, 4 missing

Xinhua, May 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The death toll from Sri Lanka's flash floods rose to 12 Tuesday after three bodies were recovered from a landslide which struck central Sri Lanka earlier Tuesday, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.

Among the victims were a woman and two children while the body of a 10-month-old infant was recovered from a flooded house on Monday.

Four people were reported missing and search operations had been launched to locate them.

Rescue efforts have been hampered due to heavy rains and strong winds in many parts of the country over the past 36 hours.

Latest statistics from the DMC showed that over 200,000 people had been displaced and the number is expected to rise further.

A total of 134,466 people had been temporarily put in over 170 safe houses set up across the country and authorities had warned that water levels in several areas would rise.

Over 200 people were trapped in Puttalam in the North Western Province, and navy teams were trying to reach out to them.

Landslide warnings remained in at least nine districts as rains and winds continued and the DMC said spill gates of all major reservoirs had been opened.

The Finance Ministry announced Tuesday that those affected by the rains would be compensated and provided with immediate relief.

By Tuesday morning, at least 150 houses in Gampaha, just outside the capital, remained inundated, and the number is expected to rise.

The DMC has also asked the Fisheries Ministry to send an immediate alert, preventing fishermen from going to sea as the wind levels near the coastal areas had risen rapidly.

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has called for immediate action to provide food supply and assistance to thousands of people affected by the extreme weather and has ordered the nations' armed forces to provide assistance.

Several roads in parts of the island remained cut off due to fallen trees and floods and public transport had come to a virtual standstill.

The Meteorology Department has warned that strong winds and heavy showers were expected to continue in Sri Lanka for another 36 hours. Endit