At least 31 dead and 14 missing in Sri Lanka after heavy monsoon rains trigger floods and landslides, damaging 400 homes and displacing families
COLOMBO: Floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 31 people across Sri Lanka this week.
Another 14 people remain missing following the severe weather, according to authorities on Thursday.
Most deaths occurred in the central tea-growing district of Badulla, where 16 people were buried alive when mountain slopes crashed onto their homes overnight.
Another four people were killed in a similar manner in the adjoining Nuwara Eliya district.
The remaining fatalities were reported from various other locations across the country.
Nearly 400 homes were damaged in mudslides, with over 1,100 families relocated to temporary shelters.
The Disaster Management Centre warned that river levels were rising across Sri Lanka.
Residents in low-lying areas were advised to move to higher ground for safety.
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the northeast monsoon season, but rains have intensified due to a depression east of the island.
The government suspended final year school examinations nationwide for two days because of the severe weather.
More than 100 millimetres of rainfall was expected across Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Some areas in the northeast were forecast to receive up to 250 millimetres of rain.
This week’s weather-related death toll is the highest since June last year, when 26 people were killed following heavy rains.
In December, 17 people were killed by flooding and landslides.
Sri Lanka depends on seasonal monsoon rain for irrigation and hydroelectricity.
Experts have warned that the country faces more frequent floods due to climate change. – AFP
