"Landslides and floods triggered by heavy rains have caused more than 40 deaths in Sri Lanka, where the authorities have stopped passenger trains and closed roads in some parts of the country, officials say. The government's Disaster Management Centre on Thursday said 25 of the reported deaths occurred in the mountainous tea-growing regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya in central Sri Lanka about 300km (186 miles) east of the capital, Colombo."
"Another 21 people were missing due to landslides in the same areas while 10 people were injured, the centre said. Sri Lanka began experiencing severe weather last week, made worse by downpours over the weekend that wreaked havoc by flooding homes, fields and roads. Reservoirs and rivers have overflowed, blocking roads."
"Authorities stopped trains in some areas in the mountainous region after rocks, mud and trees fell onto railway tracks. Local television showed workers removing the debris. In some areas, floods have inundated the tracks. Local television showed an air force helicopter rescuing three people stranded on the roof of a house marooned by floods while navy and police used boats to transport residents."
Heavy rains have produced landslides and floods across Sri Lanka, causing more than 40 deaths and widespread transport disruption. Twenty-five fatalities occurred in the mountainous tea-growing regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, with another 21 people missing and at least 10 injured. Reservoirs and rivers overflowed, blocking and closing key roads and inundating railway tracks, prompting authorities to stop passenger trains in affected areas. Air force helicopters, navy and police boats conducted rescues of people stranded on rooftops and transported residents to safety. A car swept away near Ampara killed three passengers. The toll is the highest since June last year.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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