Operations Underway at Alawathugoda Landslide Site Where 50 Families Feared Buried - Locals Share Harrowing Accounts

As a severe consequence of the adverse weather conditions prevailing across the island, a massive landslide has occurred in the Rambukella area, which falls under the Alawathugoda police division on the Kandy - Matale road. This sudden disaster was reported around 1:00 AM yesterday (29) near the Ankumbura and Alawathugoda roads, and the landslide has almost completely devastated the village.

Due to this tragedy, a large number of people are missing, and authorities have not yet been able to confirm precise data regarding the property and life losses incurred.

Local residents point out that approximately 800 families resided in the affected village, and nearly 20 houses were located directly in the path of the landslide. Information has been received that several families lived together in some houses, leading villagers to suspect that the number of affected families could be between 30 and 40, while local reporters have revealed that nearly 50 families are missing. One person stated:

  "We were wide awake. As the rainwater streams flowed down with the rain, I just flashed my torch towards the Kegalle side with a loud noise. It was only in the morning when we went there that we truly saw what had happened. They say that usually, about thirty or forty families lived here.

More than just houses, there were instances where two or three families lived in one house. So, I think there were at least thirty families. Most of them were people I knew. By dawn, the earth mound had collapsed two or three times. Seven or eight houses were buried. So far, four or five bodies have been recovered."

While several bodies have been recovered so far, continuous rain and road blockages have made it extremely challenging for relief teams to reach the site. Another person commented:

"We are trying our best to comprehend this, but it's unimaginable. There's no electricity. No phone signal to cover, nothing at all. Both sides of the roads leading to these houses are blocked. There's no way for people to get help. Everyone has been directed to temples, churches, and schools.

They say about forty lives have been lost so far. Nobody knows exactly how many lives have been lost. This happened near the newly emerging Ankura road, about seven or eight lampposts inwards."

Although the National Building Research Organisation had previously issued Red Notices regarding landslides for this area, the earth mound collapsed beyond those warned limits, obstructing the main road as well. 

 
"Previously, this area had been warned, a Red Notice had been issued telling people not to stay. But the earth mound collapsed past that limit, covering the main road too. Now, exactly about a kilometer of the area is buried. We were afraid we might get caught too."

The power outage and breakdown in telephone communication links have further complicated efforts to ascertain the condition of those affected, with residents reporting that an area of nearly one kilometer is buried under earth. The displaced population has been directed to temples, churches, and schools as safe havens, and people are appealing for urgent intervention to provide them with relief.

"Currently, a great effort is being made to recover these people. It will take about a week to clear these areas, even if they are buried under earth. It's very difficult for everyone, they can't move around. The army is intervening and providing great help. Everyone in the village, Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, without any discrimination, are all united and helping.



We can't give exact statistics. They say there were usually about forty houses. So far, four bodies have been taken away. We don't know where to start and where to end to get the rest. The army is carrying out the work with machinery. It's unimaginable."

The military and other security forces have intervened, launching rescue operations using machinery. Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities are working together, without ethnic or religious distinctions, to save those affected. However, it is believed that it will take approximately another week to clear the earth mounds and complete the search for the missing, given the prevailing adverse weather. Alawathugoda Police are conducting further investigations into the incident, and authorities warn that residents in high-risk zones should remain highly vigilant.

Video footage from the incident site click here