Sri Lanka announced plans Saturday to prosecute a slew of companies and individuals behind illegal construction projects blamed for landslides and flooding that have killed at least 211 people following heavy monsoon rains last week. The urban development ministry said they will press criminal charges against those illegally occupying marshlands earmarked to absorb flood waters … Read more
Three people drowned Thursday when their makeshift raft capsized in Sri Lanka, which has been hit by its worst flooding in 14 years. Police said the victims, who included a mother and her 14-year-old son, had ignored official warnings not to venture outdoors because they had a funeral to attend. The drownings in Nagoda in … Read more
International aid arrived into Sri Lanka on Wednesday as the death toll from the island’s worst floods and landslides in well over a decade climbed to 202. Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said 16 countries had rushed relief supplies and medicine to assist more than 600,000 people driven from their homes following Friday’s monsoon deluge. “We … Read more
Sri Lanka appealed for volunteers Tuesday to help with a massive recovery operation in the wake of devastating flooding that left 183 dead and tens of thousands without clean drinking water. State television broadcast calls for public assistance to clean drinking wells contaminated by the monsoon floods, the worst in 14 years after record rainfall … Read more
At least 180 people have now been confirmed dead in the worst flooding to hit Sri Lanka for 14 years. More than half a million people have also been displaced by the disaster which has brought flooding and landslides to the island’s southwest, and thousands of troops battled on Monday to get supplies to them. … Read more
Thousands of Sri Lankan troops battled Monday to get relief supplies to nearly half a million people displaced by the island’s worst flooding for 14 years, which has killed 177 people. The military said a lull in torrential monsoon rains allowed it to deploy aircraft, boats and ground troops to evacuate people from flooded areas, … Read more
Sri Lanka’s monsoon toll climbed to 164 with the discovery of more bodies of people buried in landslides triggered by intense rains, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said Monday. Friday’s deluge also caused the island’s worst flooding in 14 years and drove nearly half a million people out of their inundated homes in the southern … Read more
Emergency teams rushed to distribute aid Sunday to half a million Sri Lankans displaced after the island’s worst flooding in more than a decade claimed 126 lives and left scores more missing. Floodwaters were receding in some areas after a break in the rain, giving authorities a chance to deliver much-needed supplies to victims who … Read more
India joined Sri Lanka’s relief operation Saturday as 230,000 people were driven from their homes after an intense monsoon deluge killed at least 103 people. Rainfall on Friday triggered the worst flooding and landslides in 14 years in the southern and western parts of the island, authorities said. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 103 … Read more
Indian medical teams and emergency relief arrived in Sri Lanka Saturday as the monsoon-related death toll reached 100 and authorities warned of more flooding in low-lying areas. A ship carrying medical supplies docked in Colombo, sent by India to help deal with the worst flooding in the island’s western and southern regions in 14 years … Read more
Landslides and floods killed at least 25 people and left another 42 missing in Sri Lanka following heavy monsoon rains on Friday, the Disaster Management Centre said. Nearly 8,000 people were driven out of their homes in the southwestern region of Kalutara, one of the worst affected, according to the DMC. “Twenty five deaths reported … Read more