Death toll from Sri Lanka's flash floods, landslides reaches 92 as troops recover more bodies

Sri Lankan people pray for those affected by floods and landslides at the Gangarama Temple on the Vesak Day in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 21, 2016. Vesak celebrations have been cancelled in many areas across the country, while all contributions are being made to help the victims of the extreme weather. (Xinhua/Ajith Perera)

COLOMBO, May 23-- Rescue troops on Monday recovered at least seven more bodies from a landslide site in Sri Lanka's central Kegalle district bringing the total death toll from Sri Lanka's flash floods and landslides to 92, the Disaster Management Center said.

Kegalle District has recorded the highest number of deaths with 57 people being killed when two massive landslides struck Aranayake and Bulathkohupitiya last week, owing to heavy rains and strong winds.

The military said that search efforts were continuing in Aranayake as over 135 bodies were still buried under the mud and rock.

While rains had ceased in several areas on Monday, the Disaster Management Center said that people had to remain vigilant due to continuing monsoon showers.

So far 500,000 people have been affected by severe floods and landslides across the island country and over 250,000 had been shifted to temporary shelters.

Medical help was also reaching out to people who were injured in the floods and landslides and health officers said there was a threat of water borne diseases once water levels receded.

A United NationsOCHA situation report released here on Monday said that there was concern for immediate and longer term health problems following the floods in Sri Lanka due to large quantities of standing water, which risked leptospirosis and water-borne, skin diseases and vector-borne diseases.

The UN said that many wells and other sources of drinking water had been damaged or destroyed, and populations required access to sources of clean, safe water as well as sanitation facilities.

In the latest weather alert, the Meteorology Department said that heavy rains were expected across some parts of the island for the next few days while strong winds would be experienced along the coastal areas.