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Over 100 feared buried in landslide

Over 100 feared buried in landslide

An estimate of 100 people have been trapped under the mud and debris of a landslide at a giant rubbish dump on Sunday in the Sri Lankan capital.


 

Police say the known death toll from the disaster has risen to 26 and emergency workers are to resume their search on Monday after halting late on Sunday night.
The 300-foot-high (90-metre) dump in the Meethotamulla area on the border of the commercial heart of Colombo collapsed after flames engulfed it late on Friday, the nation's new year's day, burying many homes.
Military spokesman Roshan Senivirathna told reporters that survival was "very unlikely" but the rescue mission involving more than 1,000 emergency workers from defense establishments would continue.
Authorities are struggling to ascertain the exact number of missing people.
Liyanage Menaka, who lost her house in the disaster, urged the government to provide homes for those who live in danger around the country's biggest garbage pile.
President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the authorities to ensure financial resources are not an obstacle in the relief operation, his office said in a statement.

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