Death toll in Sri Lanka floods, landslides have cause many deaths and damages

Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka’s south and western regions have killed at least 100 people and damaged more than 800 homes, officials said on Saturday. Ninety-nine people were also reported missing and 40 others have been hospitalised after unusually heavy rain on Friday caused rivers to burst their banks and triggered a string of mudslides, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Indian medical teams and emergency relief arrived in the capital, Colombo, on Saturday to help Sri Lanka deal with the worst flooding in 14 years. “Many thousands are displaced and are trying to come to terms with what has happened with this huge deluge of water,” Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez said. “Some places received a year’s supply of rain in 24 hours. It has taken everyone by surprise.” In Agalawatte, some 100km south of Colombo, rescuers pulled at least 11 bodies out from the mud and earth, while one person was found alive. Authorities issued fresh evacuation orders for those living downstream of two major rivers, citing a risk of flooding even though the rains had subsided. Soldiers have fanned out in boats and helicopters to help with rescue operations. Residents said there are more people trapped in interior villages where boats have been unable to reach. An Indian ship carrying medical supplies docked in Colombo on Saturday, after Sri Lanka issued an international appeal for help. Another ship is due to arrive on Monday. The flooding is the worst since May 2003 when 250 people were killed and 10,000 homes destroyed after a similarly powerful Southwest monsoon, officials said. The DMC said the monsoon ended a prolonged drought that had threatened agriculture as well as hydropower generation. The rains have filled reservoirs used for hydroelectric projects after low supplies had raised fears of power shortages in June. But officials said most reservoirs were now so full they were in danger of spilling over and flooding communities living downstream.