Asia-Pacific

Floods affect over 364,000 people in Sri Lanka

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-01 16:57
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COLOMBO - More than 364,000 people were affected by flash floods in several parts of Sri Lanka, with at least two people left dead, officials said Saturday.

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The eastern Batticaloa district was the worst affected with over 330,000 people marooned, the disaster management center said.

The number of houses totally destroyed exceeded 1,400 with another 3,500 houses partly damaged. Over 16,000 of the affected are housed in 63 relief camps.

Sluice gates of many reservoirs in the central, north central, eastern and northern provinces were opened as rains lashed continuously for well over a week.