Sri Lanka: Floods caused 60 dead

Heavy rains that lasted three days on the island of Sri Lanka have killed 11 people, the latest victims were two children whose bodies were found lifeless on Tuesday, covered by landslides, stated the authorities cited by AFP

The spokesman of the disaster management department, Pradeep Kodippili declared that over 200,000 people were affected by floods and have been installed in refuge centers.

Five people are still missing in the island that has been continuously affected by torrential rains since last Sunday, also added officer Pradeep Kodippili. Kilinochchi district in the north is the most affected by rain which reached 373 millimeters in 24 hours, more than a quarter of the annual average in the region. The government sent the army to evacuate people living in areas and regions covered or threatened by the flood. Army Navy Air also joined these efforts. Heavy rains ended in this weekend, according to weather forecast.

Still, on this weekend’s mornings it was still raining in the capital, with the heavy rainfall raising the Kelani River. Three people died in flood-related incidents in Colombo, increasing the death toll nationwide to 63. A total of 144 people, including 37 children, are still missing after the landslides that happened on Tuesday evening, as it was announced by the police chief in the region. There are no more chances to find survivors in the two villages covered by 15 meters of mud, he said under cover.