Lanka floods toll reaches 84 as more bodies pulled out

Rescuers pulled out 15 more bodies from the muddy debris of disastrous landslide taking the toll to 84 while over 100 people remained missing today in floods triggered by the heaviest rains in Sri Lanka in over a quarter century even as relief aid poured in from across the world, including India, for lakhs of displaced people.

The heavy rains have pounded Sri Lanka since last weekend, triggering huge landslides that have buried some victims in up to 50 feet of mud.

Sri Lankan army and other rescuers pulled out 15 more bodies in the last 24 hours in the worst-hit district of Kegalle, about 100 kilometres from here.

The Disaster Management Centre said the death toll in the landslide has reached to 84 while 116 people are still missing.

Around 3,40,000 people have been displaced across the country in the floods and landslides, said Pradeep Kodippili, spokesman of the Disaster Management Centre.

The death toll is likely to go up as rescue teams reach some of the worst-hit areas, authorities said.

The national Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that 21 of Sri Lanka's 25 districts have been badly affected due to the floods and landslide.

The military said the search for the missing persons is on in Aranayake where over 40 bodies have been pulled out from the debris.

"The sun was out this morning, yet the search operations were not easy," Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said.

Meanwhile, floodwaters were receding in the capital Colombo and in the Western province's Kelaniya and Kaduwela areas.

Sri Lankan authorities are now bracing to meet the mounting challenge of preventing outbreak of diseases as floodwaters are being contaminated with garbage and raw sewage.

"There is a real danger of diarrhoea and skin diseases spreading among the flood victims," Colombo Municipal Council medical chief Ruwan Wijayamuni said.

International aid poured in Sri Lanka, bringing help to lakhs of people driven from their homes by heavy rains and deadly landslides.

Various nations, including India, Pakistan, China, Australia and Japan are bringing in aid supplies such as blankets, water-purification tablets and drinking water.

An Indian Air Force plane and two naval ships carrying emergency supplies arrived in Colombo yesterday.
Sri Lanka's military is airdropping food and water to

affected areas as rescue operations continue, authorities said.

The United Nations has pledged to support the Sri Lankan government in its efforts to respond to the needs on the ground.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Una McCauley, today met President Maithripala Sirisena and discussed flood emergency needs.

"Wemet President this morning for a briefing on emergency response and coordination. We remain committed to assist all the affected people," a statement by the UN said.

Sirisena today visited centres in Colombo where more than 200,000 people from low-lying parts of the capital were still staying in temporary shelters.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan police have arrested 16 robbers for looting abandoned homes in the flood-hit areas.

Soldiers have been deployed to guard some of the flooded neighbourhoods.