Colombo, May 26 (NIA) – At least 19 people have been reported killed while several are missing when seven landslides hit the Kalutara and Ratnapura districts in Sri Lanka on Friday, the police said.
According to the police, in the Ratnapura district alone five landslides were reported in the early hours of Friday which killed 10 people due to hours of heavy rains.
Several rescue and search teams have been deployed in the affected areas to save those trapped under the mud.
In Bulathsinhala, Kalutara, the death toll from two landslides reported on Friday morning rose to nine while 30 have been reported missing the police said.
Rescue teams are at the site conducting search operations.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center on Friday issued a flood and landslide warnings in several areas of the country, following hours of heavy rains and strong winds.
The tri forces have been deployed to evacuate thousands living close to river banks as water levels in the rivers have risen.
The sluice gates of major reservoirs have been opened leading to mass evacuations.
Landslide warnings have been issued in six districts – Hambantota, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Kalutara, DMC Spokesperson Pradeep Kodippilli said.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center said, that Ratnapura town had been inundated due to the overflowing of the Kalu river.
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