Planes land with assistance in flood-hit Sri Lanka capital
Sri Lankan flood victims push a trishaw through floodwaters in the Kolonnawa suburb of Colombo on May 21, 2016. Foreign aid began arriving in Sri Lanka on May 21, bringing help to half a million people forced out of their homes by heavy rains and landslides that have killed at least 71 in a week of extreme weather wreaking havoc in South Asia. PHOTO | AFP
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As the heaviest rains in a quarter of a century battered Sri Lanka, Cyclone Roanu barrelled into the Bangladesh coastline leaving six people dead.
Torrential rains have deluged Sri Lanka since last weekend, triggering landslides that have buried victims in up to 15 metres of mud and left 127 people missing.
Sri Lankan authorities said their priority was preventing diseases such as diarrhoea, with many areas still under water.
FREETOWN, Friday
Foreign aid has begun arriving in Sri Lanka, bringing help to half a million people forced out of their homes by heavy rains and landslides that have killed at least 71 in a week.
As the heaviest rains in a quarter of a century battered Sri Lanka, Cyclone Roanu barrelled into the Bangladesh coastline leaving six people dead and forcing the evacuation of 500,000 as it unleashed winds as strong as 88 kilometres per hour and downpours.
Torrential rains have deluged Sri Lanka since last weekend, triggering landslides that have buried victims in up to 15 metres of mud and left 127 people missing.
As aid began to arrive on a military plane from India and a commercial flight from Japan, Sri Lankan authorities said their priority was preventing diseases such as diarrhoea, with many areas still under water.
“We have sent a large number of doctors and nursing staff to ensure there is no outbreak of waterborne diseases,” Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
In Colombo, residents clung to ropes as they battled to cross torrents of water pulsing through the streets of the flooded capital, with some forced to take shelter in rickshaws.
The Indian Government has provided inflatable boats, outboard motors, diving equipment, medical supplies, electricity generators and sleeping bags, officials said.
The first of two Indian naval ships arrived at Colombo port while Australia and the US have made cash donations.
Floodwaters in parts of the capital subsided slightly overnight but heavy downpours on Saturday prevented many from moving back to their homes on the banks of the Kelani river. (AFP)
