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Sri Lanka landslides: Hundreds feared dead as mud swamps villages Sri Lanka landslides: Hundreds feared dead as mud swamps villages
(about 1 hour later)
More than 200 people are missing and feared buried in Sri Lanka after torrential rains sent landslides cascading over three villages.More than 200 people are missing and feared buried in Sri Lanka after torrential rains sent landslides cascading over three villages.
Sixteen bodies have already been recovered but around 180 people have been rescued from the enormous piles of mud and debris unleashed at around 5pm on Tuesday, according to military spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera.  The country has also been hit by extensive flooding, causing around 135,000 people to be displaced. 
The Sri Lankan Red Cross said at least 200 families were missing but officials said the situation remained unclear.  The Sri Lankan Red Cross said 220 families were missing because of the landslides. Sixteen bodies have already been recovered but around 180 people have been rescued from the enormous piles of mud and debris unleashed at around 5pm on Tuesday, according to military spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera. 
More than 300 soldiers have been deployed to search for survivors in the villages of Siripura, Pallebage and Elagipitya in Kegalle District, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Colombo, the capital, Brig. Jayaweera said. Heavy fog and electricity outages, as well as the instability of the ground, were complicating rescue efforts.  More than 300 soldiers have been deployed to search for survivors in the villages of Siripura, Pallebage and Elagipitya in Kegalle District, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Colombo, the capital, Brig. Jayaweera said. Rescue efforts were complicated by heavy fog, electricity outages and unstable ground. 
The president, Maithripala Sirisena, has visited the site and vowed to provide the support needed to find the missing families. 
State broadcaster Rupavahini showed images of huge mounds of earth covering houses, while muddy torrents of water gushed from hilltops above. Villagers said 66 houses had been buried or damaged, according to local journalist Saman Bandara. State broadcaster Rupavahini showed images of huge mounds of earth covering houses, while muddy torrents of water gushed from hilltops above. Villagers said 66 houses had been buried or damaged, according to local journalist Saman Bandara. 
Some 1,141 people who escaped the disaster were sheltering and being treated for minor injuries at a nearby school and a Buddhist temple, according to government official Mahendra Jagath. Some 1,141 people who escaped the disaster were sheltering and being treated for minor injuries at a nearby school and a Buddhist temple, according to government official Mahendra Jagath. 
The same rains that unleashed the mudslides have also caused severe flooding in cities including Colombo. The country's disaster management center had reported 11 deaths from electrocution and smaller landslides elsewhere in the island nation in the past few days.  The same rains that unleashed the mudslides have also caused severe flooding in cities, including Colombo. Eleven deaths from electrocution and smaller landslides elsewhere have been reported in the past few days. 
The Meteorological Department has forecast more rain and rough seas for much of the country.  The Meteorological Department has forecast more rain and rough seas for much of the country and warned more landslides could occur. 
Schools in many parts of the country were closed Wednesday due to the bad weather. Many schools are being used to provide shelter for the affected people. Schools in many parts of the country were closed Wednesday due to the bad weather. Many schools are being used to provide shelter for the affected people. 
Agencies Mudslides are common in Sri Lanka during the monsoon season, with heavy deforestation to clear land for agriculture leaving the countryside exposed. 
During heavy rains in December 2014, Sri Lankan authorities evacuated more than 60,000 people from thousands of homes damaged or destroyed by floods or landslides. Two months before that, dozens of tea plantation workers were killed when mudslides buried their hillside homes. 
AP