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16 people missing as landslide hits Sri Lanka

Xinhua, May 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 16 people were missing when a landslide struck a village in Bulathkohupitiya, around 72 km away from the capital, in the early hours of Wednesday, the Disaster Management Center said.

Rescue and medical teams had rushed to the site to conduct an immediate rescue operation but efforts were being hampered due to extreme weather conditions.

The DMC said that six rows of houses had been damaged, some completely buried under the debris.

Immediate figures of those injured or killed could not be verified as rescue teams worked their way into saving residents trapped under the debris.

Wednesday's landslide is the third to be reported since heavy rains and strong winds began across the country on Saturday evening.

On Tuesday evening, a massive landslide struck Aranayake, in the Kegalle District, leading to several people being injured and several still trapped under the debris. The DMC said that the military, police and rescue teams were on site continuing with the rescue operations.

However details of the number killed or injured could yet not be verified.

On Tuesday morning a landslide in central Sri Lanka killed three people, including two children while three more are missing.

Over 9 districts in the country remain on a landslide warning and the DMC has advised people to remain cautious.

Heavy rains and winds continued in some districts even on Wednesday, making water levels in all major reservoirs and rivers rise causing further flooding.

Emergency evacuations continued to take place by teams which included members of the armed forces.

The DMC said that at least 200,000 people have been affected by the floods while more than 137,000 people have been moved to over 170 safe houses located across the country.

In the latest weather update, the Meteorology Department said that rains would continue in several districts in the country for a further 36 hours but the low pressure area had moved away from the island and rains over the island would gradually reduce in the next few days. Endit