Authorities say the number of dead and missing has risen from the collapse of a massive garbage mound in Meetotamulla. At least 28 people have died and some 30 others are missing and are feared to be beneath the rubble.
The Disaster Management Center said Monday that 11 people were injured and 79 homes were destroyed when the mound collapsed Friday as people celebrated the local new year.
Military personnel were searching the site and were speaking to survivors to determine how many people were still missing. The site became a dumping ground for Colombo’s garbage as authorities pushed to develop the capital in recent years. Residents protesting the dumping because of health hazards.
Hundreds of soldiers have kept up the search for survivors after the disaster, which followed heavy rain the previous day and a fire hours earlier.
-AP
-Agencies
