At least 73 dead in Sri Lanka after landslides and flooding

Sri Lanka’s government has raised the death toll from landslides and heavy flooding to 73, as soldiers continue searching for scores of people missing since landslides struck several days ago.

In the capital Colombo and its suburbs, thousands of homes remain inundated, though there are signs that the waters are receding. About 243,000 people are currently in temporary shelters nationwide.

The week-long rains have caused chaos across Sri Lanka, unleashing deadly landslides and driving tens of thousands from their homes.

Soldiers have resumed searching for the missing, but hold little hope of finding survivors. They recovered just one body on Friday, with the search repeatedly halted as continuing rain threatened to trigger more landslides.

"It's a very difficult task, but troops will carry out their work in the hope of finding more" in the remote area about 45 miles north of Colombo, said military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera.

The island is unlikely to get a reprieve soon, with the meteorological department warning that rains and stormy seas are expected to continue, especially in the southwest.

Schools were closed across the country, and hundreds of thousands of people were taken from homes across the island to 594 shelters.

In the capital, more than 185,000 have been displaced, including tens of thousands taken to temporary shelters. Others were camping on rooftops and the top floors of buildings. Electricity has been cut in flooded areas to prevent electrocutions.

Some people fashioned floating devices from old car tyres or plastic tubes, which they used to move food, water and other supplies. In some places, people wading in the water fought strong currents to stay upright.

The navy said it was sending two ships with aid to Colombo. On Thursday, foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera said there was an urgent need for water purification tablets, water pumps and drinking water.

PA