19 killed as garbage dump collapses after fire in Lanka

At least 19 people, including four children, were killed when a 91-metre open garbage pile came crashing down on homes following a fire near Sri Lanka's capital, with the Prime Minister apologising on Saturday for the delay in relocating the dump. Over 100 houses were completely destroyed and more than 600 people fled in the aftermath of the fire and the collapse of the dump in Meetotamulla area in Kolonnawa, near here, police said.

19 people, including four children, were killed and 14 others injured in the incident that happened on Friday, officials said. More people were feared to be trapped as the military struggled to clear the rubble and rescue people or recover bodies. On President Maithripala Sirisena's directive, hundreds of military personnel have been deployed to rescue the slum dwellers.