Rescuers were searching for more than 300 people missing after a landslide in central Sri Lanka Wednesday left at least 14 villagers dead, an official said, according to dpa. The landslide occurred in the Meeriyabedda area in Koslanda, 200 kilometres east of the capital, which has been vulnerable to landslides for several years, said Sarath Lal Kumara, a spokesman for the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). "The area where the landslide has been reported was mostly occupied by tea estate labourers. It is most of them who have been reported missing," he said. Major Genral Mano Perera said that around 500 soldiers have been sent to take part in a search and rescue operation, but rain and more landslides in the area are hampering efforts. Some 120 houses have been destroyed in the landslide, according to the DMC. The landslide occurred around 7:30 am (0200 GMT) following heavy rains overnight.
