Death toll in garbage dump collapse climbs to 10
April 15, 2017 08:04 am
At least 10 persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a section of the garbage dump in Meethotamulla yesterday, while another 7 individuals are receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.
Six females and four males are among the deceased, including three children.
The director of the national hospital Dr Anil Jasingha said that of the casualties only one person had succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the hospital and that the rest were pronounced dead on admission.
He also stated that four persons were discharged after being treated at the hospital’s Out Patient Department (OPD) and that seven injured persons are still undergoing treatment after being admitted.
Police said hundreds of troops had joined the search for survivors after the disaster at Kolonnawa on Friday (14).
Military spokesman Brigadier Roshan Seneviratne said that special measures have been taken to provide relief to those affected by the disaster.
Dozens of homes collapsed after heavy rains overnight caused the garbage mountain to shift, officials said. It further destabilised after a fire broke out, triggering landslides that buried dwellings.
A contingent of Army personnel of the 14 Division of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), including Officers rushed to the garbage dump at Meetotamulla yesterday afternoon.
Troops of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Commandos, Gemunu Watch and Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment are currently carrying out those relief operations, Sri Lanka Army said.
On a Presidential directive, hundreds of tri service personnel, Policemen, Special Task Force (STF) personnel are currently engaged in relief operations after evacuating the victims as well as their valuables from affected houses in close coordination with the workforce of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
“It is too early and still we can’t say how many houses are damaged or destroyed and how many people affected,” Pradeep Kodippili, DMC spokesman, said.
Residents in the area have been demanding the removal of the dump saying it was causing health issues. The government had planned to remove it soon under an infrastructure plan.
