Huge landslide at Aranayaka -- Update

Huge landslide at Aranayaka -- Update 

The police announce that because of the Elangapitiya Saamasara mountain in Aranayaka, Mawanella being subjected to a landslide last evening, about 72 individuals in 271 families have disappeared and that by now 400 persons have

found refuge in 3 displaced camps.

When taking into consideration the number belonging to 271 families they run into hundreds. According to information reported yesterday 14 persons who were trapped in the landslide were admitted to Aranayaka District Hospital while 2 other persons were admitted to Mawanella Hospital. Because of the severe darkness which prevailed during the night, operations launched to rescue those displaced proved a failure and the rescue workers and the armed forces are engaged in removing the debris and searching for those who were missing, from this morning (18).

Last night Minister Mr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya also approached this location said that a large number of residents of Siripura hamlet in Rathgampola, Aranayaka were victims of the landslide and that the President had been notified to provide whatever relief is possible. Because of the darkness, rain and misty condition with the large slopes there the army including the rescue workers found it a difficult task to get close to the place. The number of damaged houses have been estimated as something between 50 - 100.

Initially some cracks beginning to occur at various spots were observed at about 4.30 in the evening and later the situation has developed into a landslide around 5.30 the same evening. Since the landslide had occured all of a sudden, the villagers had been unable to flee from the hamlet. It was reported of some persons who had managed to run down when they heard the noise of the landslide. The Derana video which captured photographs of the incident last night, from below