Sri Lanka. 26 dead in landfill collapse

The death toll from the collapse of a mountain of garbage in Sri Lanka rose to 26 on Monday after three people in hospital died of their injuries.

Without much optimism, hundreds of soldiers continued to dig in the debris of the rubbish and the 145 houses destroyed by this disaster on Friday in the huge garbage dump of Kolonnawa surrounded by slums, on the northeastern edge of the capital Colombo. . Six people are still missing, according to police.

“We are continuing the search, but we have little hope of finding anyone living in these conditions,” army spokesman Roshan Seneviratne said.

The authorities have temporarily relocated 1,700 people to neighboring public schools, pending a permanent relocation solution.

Thefts and looting

The security forces have been increased for fear of looting. A total of 18 people suspected of stealing property belonging to the victims were arrested.

As the country celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a 91-meter-high pile of garbage, destabilized overnight by torrential rains and a fire, collapsed, burying huts in a slum.

The inhabitants of the area regularly denounce the environmental devastation caused by this open dump where 23 million tons of garbage pile up, with 800 tons of additional solid waste dumped every day.

Aishwarya Yogeshwar

Aishwarya Yogeshwar is the visionary founder of CGI Jaffna, a pioneering organization dedicated to fostering innovation and community growth in the Jaffna region. With a deep passion for news publishing, Aishwarya combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a keen interest in delivering impactful and engaging stories. Her commitment to creating a platform for reliable news and meaningful discourse reflects her dedication to empowering communities through knowledge and information. Aishwarya’s leadership and innovative approach make her a driving force in the world of media and communication.

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