UPDATE: Heavy rains claim 91 lives in Sri Lanka

UPDATES WITH HIGHER DEATH TOLL, HIGHER NUMBER OF MISSING PEOPLE, DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE CONFIRMS

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AA) - Floods and landslides caused by heavy rains across Sri Lanka claimed 91 lives and left 110 people missing, an emergency official said Friday.

According to the Disaster Management Center (DMC), more than 50,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected by the island-wide inclement weather.

Rains on Thursday and Friday flooded the country’s four main rivers.

The fatalities included people buried under debris from a landslide at midnight in Baduraliya, a town 60 kilometers (38 miles) southeast of the capital Colombo.

A severe weather warning has been issued for the next 48 hours, as the government is trying to reach the affected areas.

Hundreds are currently being evacuated from the southern districts of Galle, Matara, and Hambantota, where torrential rains have caused floods.

The navy and army are assisting in the evacuation and rescue program, said Disaster Management Center spokesman Pradeep Kodippili.

Meanwhile, the Urban Development Authority has issued a directive to immediately remove construction that is disturbing the flow of water in reservoirs and canals.

In 2016, Sri Lanka suffered severe flooding and landslides that claimed more than 100 lives.