Sri Lankans ‘ignored landslide warnings’
Officials says workers were warned 10 years before heavy rains caused hill to collapse, killing over 100 people.
Published On 1 Nov 2014
Sri Lankans are being warned to watch out for more landslides after disaster struck a tea plantation. At least 100 workers and their familes were killed on Wednesday when monsoon rains caused a hill beside a village to collapse.
Officials originally put the death toll at more than 300, but reduced it that estimate after it emerged that many schoolchildren and plantation workers had been at a safe distance when buildings were engulfed.
Government officials say workers were warned of the potential danger 10 years ago but chose to stay.
Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez reports from Koslanda.
Source: Al Jazeera