Sri Lanka landslide

A landslide at a tea plantation near the town of Haldummulla in southeastern Sri Lanka on Oct. 29 engulfed 140 houses over an area of one square mile. Some houses were under 30 feet of mud. As of press time, 10 people were known to have died, with at least 100 still missing.

Heavy rains had triggered landslide warnings across Sri Lanka and washed away sections of major roadways. The landslide in Haldummulla occurred after parents returned home from taking their children to school, leaving many children unharmed. Initial rescue operations involving heavy machinery and up to 500 military personnel had to be suspended due to poor weather conditions.