22 KILLED AS MASSIVE MOUND OF GARBAGE COLLAPSES
COLOMBO The death toll from the collapse of a massive garbage mound near Sri Lanka’s capital rose to 22 on Sunday, and activists said some 20 more people could still be buried underneath the debris.
Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe, who is heading the rescue efforts, said authorities were struggling to determine exactly how many people were trapped under the debris.
But lawyer and activist Nuwan Bopage, who had worked with local residents in their protests to have the garbage dump removed, said about 20 were trapped.
Military personnel were still searching the site in Meetotamulla, a town outside Colombo, the capital, and speaking to survivors to determine how many were missing.
The tragedy occurred Friday evening as people were celebrating the local new year.
A resident who identified himself only as Sanjaya said that he and others were searching for three neighbours — an elderly man, his daughter and granddaughter — who were buried under the collapse.
Twelve people who were injured in the disaster remained in the hospital.
Ranasinghe said 78 houses were destroyed and more than 150 were damaged.