New Year's Day

100 Feared Dead After Huge Sri Lanka Garbage Dump Collapse

Survival was "very unlikely" for those still trapped, a military spokesman said

Some 100 people remained trapped Monday under mud and debris left by a landslide at a huge garbage dump in Sri Lanka's capital Friday, according to NBC News and wire reports.

The 300-foot-high dump caught fire that evening as the nation celebrated its new year's day. Then the dump collapsed onto homes nearby.

Authorities are trying to determine how many people are missing, but the confirmed death toll stood at 29 Monday.

Military spokesman Roshan Senivirathna said survival was "very unlikely" for those still trapped, but more than 1,000 emergency workers were continuing to try to rescue them.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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