Five dead following landslide in Matale

Atapattu Bandara and Indika Polkotuwa

Tree falls on van killing three, injuring 10

Rasika Somarathna

Three persons were killed and 10 others injured when a tree fell on to a van they were traveling in at Rattota, Matale yesterday evening, the Police said.

The 10 who were injured were admitted to hospital. The van traveling from Manampitiya was carrying a group to a wedding in Rattota, sources said.

Five persons including two children from the same family died in separate incidents in the Rattota electorate, Matale yesterday following landslides.

Meanwhile, one person was reported missing yesterday, Matale district secretary K H A Meegasmulla said.

The deceased children, aged seven and 10 have been identified as Muttukumar Sanjan and Muttukumar Dayaran of Seluwakanda Rattota.

A young girl, aged 16 in Welmagahawatta died after a rock fell on her. Two elderly persons aged 58 and 50 died after an earth mound fell on them in the night. Meanwhile, around 1,301 persons have been affected and 38 houses belonging to 309 families have been damaged. The families have been evacuated to safe locations, the secretary said. She said relief work in the affected areas were continuing. Meanwhile, the National Building and Research Organisation warned of landslides in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Matale districts if the rains continue.