Sri Lanka flood death toll hits 11, 50,000 homeless
Pastor Dale Morgan
Saturday May 5, 3:37 PM Reuters
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Sri Lanka flood death toll hits 11, 50,000 homeless*
COLOMBO (Reuters) - The death toll from flooding along Sri Lanka's
rain-drenched southwestern coast has risen to 11, while at least 50,000
people are now homeless and living in temples and schools, officials
said on Saturday.
Rains flooded many roads around Colombo on Thursday and Friday, causing
traffic chaos and disrupting trade on the Colombo Stock Exchange because
many traders were unable to get to work.
Flood levels had subsided by Saturday morning, and rains abated.
"We now have 11 dead, while there are around 50,000 homeless," said
police media spokesman Deputy Inspector General Jayantha Wickramaratne.
National Disaster Management Centre officials said the number of people
displaced could be as high as 80,000.
Monsoon rains, which are due to arrive later this month and run through
to September, typically cause widespread flooding and displacement.