8 killed in Sri Lanka floods, landslides; 8 missing

Sri Lanka’s government says the death toll from floods and landslides across the country has risen to eight, with eight others reported missing as a result of heavy storms in the past three days.

The Disaster Management Center says in its report Tuesday that nine people are injured and about 30,000 people have been evacuated to safe locations as heavy rains continue.

Most deaths were attributed to landslides and electrocution.

Navy spokesman Akram Alavi says that 24 teams have been deployed across the country to rescue people marooned in the floods and evacuate those living in threatened areas. UNB