Death toll exceeds 200 after heavy rain and mudslides in Sri Lanka
Friday, June 2, 2017
On Thursday, the Sri Lankan government reported more than 202 people were killed due to the torrential heavy rains caused by cyclone Mora over the last few days. Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Rathnapura, Colombo districts were mainly affected due to the heavy rains.
According to the figures reported by the Disaster Management Center (DMC) issued on Wednesday, at least 202 people have been confirmed dead while about 99 people were missing and 122 injured. The report said about 1505 houses were destroyed and more than 7600 houses were damaged. More than 629,742 were affected and several people have been displaced to safe places, DMC stated.
Sixteen countries including India, Russia, the US had offered food and relief medicines, Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday. On Monday, Red Cross said this was Sri Lanka’s worst floods since 2003. Police said the Panapitiya Bolgoda dam could collapse due to the heavy rains.