Children among the dead and missing as heavy rains trigger floods in Sri Lanka

Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Authorities in Sri Lanka say at least five people have died, including three children, after heavy rains triggered floods and landslides. Five others others are missing as heavy downpours and strong winds over the past two days flooded homes, fields and roads and forced authorities to suspend train services in tea-growing mountain areas. The Meteorology Department attributed the severe weather to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and warned it is likely to move closer to Sri Lanka and intensify into a cyclonic storm on Thursday. Sri Lanka has been grappling with severe weather since May, mostly caused by heavy monsoon rains.