At least 150 people have died in Sri Lanka after a monsoonal deluge delivered more than a month’s rain in a single day.
The rain triggered flooding and mudslides and there are fears as rescue workers continue to dig out bodies buried beneath the earth that the death toll could rise to 250 with more than 100 people still missing. More than 100,000 have reportedly been displaced from their homes and as many as 500,000 have been affected by the disaster.
Bojan Kolundzija, country director for humanitarian agency Oxfam, said the mudslides are the worst the country has seen since 2003 when 250 people were killed.
“Whilst the fears of more loss of life may now easing, with expected continued rain and the displacement of so many people in dire conditions, our main concern is getting urgent assistance to those people to meet their immediate needs and stop the spread of disease,” he said.
Rescue efforts are reportedly being hampered by ongoing rain and a lack of drinking water and electrical power.
