TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Landslides have struck a populated area in south-central Sri Lanka after the area was hit by torrential rains for several days, devastating more than 140 homes and killing 10 people, said Sri Lankan officials.
More than 250 people have also been reported missing since the tragedy struck.
Children who had left for school in the morning came home to find their homes in Haldummulla village, 192 kilometres from Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, completely buried and destroyed, said media reports quoted by Reuters.
"Search-and-Rescue (SAR) operations have so far yielded 10 bodies," said Pradeep Kodippili, a spokesperson for Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre.
"More than 250 people are missing and around 140 homes have been destroyed," continued the spokesperson.
Sri Lanka's Minister for Disaster Management, Mahinda Amaraweera said that the landslides happened on a three-kilometres stretch, and that villagers in the area have been warned to evacuate but many chose not to heed the warnings.
"I was trapped beneath the rubbles and some people helped to pull me out. I lost my mother and my aunt because in this incident," said a woman who was being treated for her injuries to the media.
"We saw what we thought was smoke coming from the area. We heard screams and saw people running, so we ran with them," recounted a survivor.
ANTARANEWS
