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Sri Lanka landslide: Ten dead and 200 missing | |
(35 minutes later) | |
About 200 people are missing and 10 people are dead following a landslide in central Sri Lanka, disaster officials say. | |
The landslide, which came after heavy monsoon rains, engulfed about 140 houses in Badulla district, officials said. | |
Security forces have been mobilised in search and rescue operations. | Security forces have been mobilised in search and rescue operations. |
Mudslide warnings were issued after much of Sri Lanka was lashed by heavy rain in the past few weeks. | |
"Rescue operations have recovered 10 bodies so far," Pradeep Kodippili, spokesman for the Disaster Management Centre, said. | |
"Over 250 people are still missing and 140 houses are buried." | |
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told local media that 10 shops and three official residences had also been hit by the landslide. | |
Sections of several national highways have been washed away by the rains, AFP news agency reported. | Sections of several national highways have been washed away by the rains, AFP news agency reported. |
The landslide hit the Meeriyabedda tea plantation near the town of Haldummulla, about 200 km (120 miles) east of the capital Colombo, on Wednesday morning. | |
One woman who survived told local media: "I was under the rubble and some people took me out... my mother and aunt have died." | One woman who survived told local media: "I was under the rubble and some people took me out... my mother and aunt have died." |
In June, monsoon rains triggered landslides in Sri Lanka that killed at least 22 people and forced thousands from their homes. | |
Monsoon rains are caused by winds in the Indian Ocean and south Asia. They bring about wet and dry seasons in much of the region, and have a large impact on local ecosystems. |