News Digest

'No chance' of survivors at mudslide as search for 200 Sri Lankans called off

Hundreds of desperate Sri Lankan villagers dug with bare hands through the broken red earth of a deadly landslide on Thursday, defying police orders after a top disaster official said there was no chance of finding more survivors at the high-elevation tea plantation. There were conflicting reports of how many people were missing in the slide, which struck Wednesday morning in the island nation’s central hills after heavy monsoon rains. Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the number of dead at the Koslanda tea plantation would be fewer than 100. But Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center — which Amaraweera oversees — reported 190 people missing. Villagers, meanwhile, said the death toll could easily exceed 200.

I have visited the scene and from what I saw I don’t think there will be any survivors.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera

Frustrated relatives who had watched the search from the sidelines tried to follow a politician into the search site but were stopped by police. However, the politician argued with police and took villagers with him who joined hundreds of soldiers searching through the mud for survivors. The search was suspended Thursday evening because of heavy rain. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the disaster site on Thursday and spoke to residents who are taking shelter in schools and temples. According to his website, Rajapaksa ordered officials to expedite rescue and relief for the victims. Television reports showed Rajapaksa inspecting the disaster from the air and meeting with relief officials. Later he was seen distributing sleeping mats and boxes with essential items to the displaced people and consoling weeping men and women. Amaraweera said the government had asked the National Child Protection Authority to take charge of children orphaned by the disaster.