Sri Lanka floods kill at least 200
 |
Sri Lankan army soldiers evacuate people by trucks.
Story Tools
|
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Flash floods and landslides have killed at least 200 people in Sri Lanka over the weekend and as many again are missing.
"At least 200 are dead and a similar number or more are missing," Jayalath Jayawardene, the minister for rehabilitation, resettlement and refugees, told Reuters on Monday.
Officials say 150,000 people have fled their homes and are being sheltered in temples, schools and public buildings.
South central Sri Lanka is reported heaviest hit, and forecasters have predicted more rain in the worst wet spell to hit in more than 50 years.
Some remote areas are described as isolated.
The navy has been called in to help with rescue operations and search for the missing, officials said.
India says it is sending relief supplies and medical teams.
Southern Sri Lanka's beaches are popular with foreign tourists but no foreign visitors were among the dead and there were no reports of tourists being affected, officials said.
