Sri Lanka grapples with flood recovery as deaths top 200

Record ID: 877582

  • Title: Sri Lanka grapples with flood recovery as deaths top 200
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (Sinhala) MINISTER FOR LAW AND ORDER AND SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT, SAGALA RATNAYAKE, SAYING: "We were able to bring the situation under control within a short time. But that doesn't mean all the problems were solved." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Sinhala) MINISTER FOR LAW AND ORDER AND SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT, SAGALA RATNAYAKE, SAYING: "If there were shortcomings - this is the only question that can be asked. Why is that we did not know beforehand that this would happen? I will not give you the scientific reason for that, but that is the only shortcoming of the government."
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 09:43
  • Keywords: flood recovery relief displaced
  • Location: COLOMBO, MATARA, RATHNAPURA, SRI LANKA
  • City: COLOMBO, MATARA, RATHNAPURA, SRI LANKA
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Floods
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026J64LL1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Relief goods from neighbouring countries started to arrive in Colombo on Wednesday (May 31) after floods and landslides caused by monsoon rains hit Sri Lanka, killing 202 people in recent days, according to authorities.
    Authorities say 97 people are still missing and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in the most widespread disaster to hit the island nation since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Water supplies have been contaminated, electricity is down, houses and buildings destroyed or damaged, and transportation links blocked.
    The latest shipment of relief goods came from Pakistan on Wednesday along with a helicopter to help with distribution. India sent three ships, and a Chinese ship is expected to arrive on Thursday (June 1). Sri Lanka's military has meanwhile deployed more troops to clear roads, unblock rivers, distribute food and rescue stranded people.
    After hitting Sri Lanka, the powerful storm turned into Cyclone Mora. It has also wreaked havoc in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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