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| Sri Lanka landslide rescue effort is intensified | Sri Lanka landslide rescue effort is intensified |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rescue workers in Sri Lanka have intensified their search for survivors of a landslide at a tea plantation in the centre of the country in which more than 100 people are feared buried. | |
| Five excavators normally used to dig trenches joined the search effort at first light on Thursday, military sources told the AFP news agency. | Five excavators normally used to dig trenches joined the search effort at first light on Thursday, military sources told the AFP news agency. |
| Officials have already warned there is little chance of finding survivors. | Officials have already warned there is little chance of finding survivors. |
| It is not certain how many people are trapped in the debris. | It is not certain how many people are trapped in the debris. |
| The deadly mudslide hit the Meeriyabedda tea plantation near the town of Haldummulla, about 200km (120 miles) east of the capital Colombo, on Wednesday morning. | |
| Ministers told the Daily Mirror newspaper in Colombo that 150 people were trapped in the debris. The Island newspaper reported that as many as 250 people were buried alive. | Ministers told the Daily Mirror newspaper in Colombo that 150 people were trapped in the debris. The Island newspaper reported that as many as 250 people were buried alive. |
| However Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told AFP after visiting the site on Wednesday that the total was closer to about 100 people. | However Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told AFP after visiting the site on Wednesday that the total was closer to about 100 people. |
| He said that most of those who were originally classified as missing were subsequently discovered to be at work or in school. | |
| Correspondents say that compiling a definitive figure has been made harder because an office where village records were maintained was destroyed in the landslide. | Correspondents say that compiling a definitive figure has been made harder because an office where village records were maintained was destroyed in the landslide. |
| Mr Amaraweera said that the area surrounding the tea plantation had also been made unstable by the recent heavy monsoon rains and that the recovery operation would have to proceed "cautiously". | Mr Amaraweera said that the area surrounding the tea plantation had also been made unstable by the recent heavy monsoon rains and that the recovery operation would have to proceed "cautiously". |
| One witness told AFP that there was a noise like thunder when part of a mountainside crashed into the tea estate, burying some of the workers' homes in nine metres (30ft) of mud and debris. | One witness told AFP that there was a noise like thunder when part of a mountainside crashed into the tea estate, burying some of the workers' homes in nine metres (30ft) of mud and debris. |
| Mud covered many homes, leaving only their roofs visible. | Mud covered many homes, leaving only their roofs visible. |
| More than 300 survivors spent Wednesday night at two schools near the tea plantation. About 500 military personnel are said to be involved in the rescue operation. | |
| Local MP Udith Lokubandara told the BBC that many parents had returned home after leaving their children at school when the landslip happened. | Local MP Udith Lokubandara told the BBC that many parents had returned home after leaving their children at school when the landslip happened. |
| "It is a very sorry situation because there are many children who have become orphans," he said. | "It is a very sorry situation because there are many children who have become orphans," he said. |
| Sections of several national highways have been washed away by the rains, reports say. | Sections of several national highways have been washed away by the rains, reports say. |
| The Disaster Management Centre had issued warnings of more mudslides and falling rocks later this week. | The Disaster Management Centre had issued warnings of more mudslides and falling rocks later this week. |
| In June, monsoon rains triggered landslides in Sri Lanka that killed at least 22 people and forced thousands from their homes. | 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. | 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. |
| Are you, or do you know anyone, in the area? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you, or do you know anyone, in the area? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |