Landslides: 'All I could do was scream'

Death toll is likely to rise sharply, as authorities begin to give up hope of reaching the trapped

Hopes faded on Thursday for the survival of about 150 people trapped under the mud and rubble of two landslides in Sri Lanka, as heavy rain hampered rescue operations and the official death toll from the disaster rose to 41.

Rescue work had resumed early in morning before fresh rains began, but was halted for about an hour as minor landslides made the work dangerous. Torrents of water streamed down the hill on which the three villages of Siripura, Elangapitiya or Pallebage were located at different elevations.