Flood, landslide death toll rises

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The death toll from landslides and floods in several parts of the country rose to 12 yesterday while over 1,500 people were displaced.

According to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), eight deaths were reported yesterday from the Badulla, Kandy and Kegalle districts, in addition to the four bodies recovered on Monday from the landslide site in Pussellawa.

"Out of the eight deaths, three were reported from Badulla, one from Passara, one from Kandy, one from Deraniyagala and two more bodies were recovered from Sunday's landslide at Pussellawa. All the casualties were landslide victims except the death reported from Passara which was due to a cyclone," NDMC Director General Gamini Hettiarachchi said.

He said that seven people in Kandy and Kegalle have suffered injuries due to landslides.

Over 1,500 people in five districts have also been displaced owing to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains.

Among them are 200 people in the Ratnapura district, 279 in the Badulla district, 337 in the Kandy district, 263 in the Kegalle district who were affected by landslides, and 527 people in the Kalutara district displaced due to floods.

Around 20 houses have been fully destroyed in landslides while 303 others have been partially damaged.