Heavy monsoon rains, winds kill 27 in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan people watch a rescue boat search for missing fishermen in Dehiwala on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 8, 2013. The death toll from strong winds and monsoon rains across Sri Lanka’s coastal areas rose to 27 on Sunday, while another 29 fishermen were missing, a government spokesman said. AP/ERANGA JAYAWARDENA

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—The death toll from strong winds and monsoon rains across Sri Lanka’s coastal areas rose to 27 on Sunday, while another 29 fishermen were missing, a government spokesman said.

The navy was searching for the fishermen and more than 32 boats that are missing since heavy monsoon rains and winds hit early Saturday, said Pradeep Kodippili, a spokesman for the government’s disaster management center.

By Sunday afternoon, 26 fishermen have been killed, while another person died Saturday after being crushed by a fallen tree. Another 35 fishermen have been injured, Kodippili said.

The meteorology department has issued a warning of bad weather with strong winds because of the southwest monsoon.—Bharatha Mallawarachi