The use of equipment is not possible, and soldiers are slowly going through the debris to locate any survivors, syas Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe.

Those who have been rescued are in safe, temporary shelter, he said.

The Aranayake incident is one of the worst in history, says minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

More than 1,500 affected people sheltered in six temporary camps are being provided with food and other requirements, he says.

The adverse weather related incidents in 22 districts left 58 dead, 132 missing and 28 wounded by yesterday afternoon (19), according to the Disaster Management Centre.