The torrential rains are the worst to hit the country since 2003.

Thousands of homes have been completely destroyed since rains began swamping the southern and western areas of the Indian Ocean island nation last Friday.

Sri Lanka’s army, navy and air force are continuing relief and rescue efforts supported by divers and navy personnel who have arrived from India.

Over 2,000 military personnel have been deployed in the region to assist in the rescue efforts.

Many of the areas are impossible to bet to which is hampering the rescue efforts.

Mudslides have become common during Sri Lanka’s summer monsoon season as forests across the tropical Indian Ocean island nation have been cleared for export crops such as tea and rubber.

Health minister Rajitha Senaratne was quoted by local reports as saying: “A total of 493,455 people are now housed in 185 relief camps and health care facilities are being provided to them.”

In Galle, a city in the southwest that was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami, aerial footage showed enormous areas of flooding, with residents standing knee deep and rescuers distributing aid packages.

Tragic.

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Source- AFF