Floods and mudslides have killed at least 100 people and left 99 others missing in Sri Lanka’s south and western regions.
The Indian Ocean island’s authorities appealed for international help for rescue and relief operations as 800 homes were damaged and more than 2,900 people have been displaced due to the worst flooding in 14 years.
40 others have also been hospitalized after unusually heavy rain on Friday caused rivers to burst their banks and triggered a string of mudslides, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC(.
The military used large armored vehicles and boats to transport people to safety. But some remained trapped in interior villages that boats have been unable to reach.
Authorities issued fresh evacuation orders for those living downstream of two major rivers, citing a risk of flooding even though the rains had subsided.
An Indian ship carrying medical supplies docked in Colombo on Saturday, after Sri Lanka issued an international appeal for help. Another ship is due to arrive on Monday.
The flooding is the worst since May 2003 when 250 people were killed and 10,000 homes destroyed after a similarly powerful Southwest monsoon, officials said.
The DMC said the monsoon ended a prolonged drought that had threatened agriculture as well as hydropower generation.
The rains have filled reservoirs used for hydroelectric projects after low supplies had raised fears of power shortages in June.
But officials said most reservoirs were now so full they were in danger of spilling over and flooding communities living downstream
Source: Floods, Mudslides Hit Sri Lanka; 100 Killed, 99 Missing
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