Danger of unexploded mines surfacing after Sri Lanka floods
By DPA, IANSSunday, January 16, 2011
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka’s military warned of unexploded mines surfacing after heavy floods in the northern and eastern regions that have claimed at least 37 lives, officials said Sunday.
Warnings have been posted in areas where government troops and Tamil rebels fought in the civil war that ended in May 2009.
“We have warned the military detachments in the area to be aware of mines surfacing after floods and told them to educate the public as well,” military spokesman Major General Ubaya Medawala said.
The floods since Jan 8 had interrupted a government programme backed by international aid to clear mines from the conflict zones.
The official death toll from the extreme weather was 37 Sunday, but relief workers said it would climb.
The floods have caused major damage to roads, irrigation tanks, rice paddy and more than 20,000 houses.
“We estimate that the total losses may be over Rs.40,000 billion ($361 million),” Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
