Colombo April 19 (IANS) The death toll from a garbage dump collapse in Sri Lanka on Wednesday rose to 32. Eight persons remain missing.
The Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre said search and rescue work was on at the Meethotamulla garbage dumping site Xinhua news agency reported.
Several houses were buried after the massive garbage mountain collapsed on April 14. A fire also broke out at the site and the Air Force was deployed to douse the flame.
Residents have been protesting over the months urging the authorities to move the garbage to another location.
The government said there would be no more dumping of garbage at Meethotamulla. President Maithripala Sirisena has told officials to give maximum relief to the affected people.
--IANS
py/mr
Sri Lanka garbage dump collapse toll is 32
