Heavy rain has lashed Sri Lanka triggering floods and landslides that have killed at least 17 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes, officials said on Monday.
After days of rain, rivers on the island nation's southern and western plains overflowed on the weekend, inundating low-lying areas and forcing thousands into relief centers
"Water levels are receding but landslide warnings are still in place in 10 districts," Pradeep Kodippili, assistant director of the National Disaster Management Centre, said in a statement.
More than 270,000 people have been affected and about 100,000 buildings lost power, he added.
"We expect the rainfall to reduce from now on but intermittent rains will be seen in some areas," said meteorological department director-general Athula Karunanayake.
The natural disaster comes as Sri Lanka is hoping to ease restrictions to tackle the novel coronavirus. A month-long lockdown to fight a third wave of infections is due to end on June 14.
Sri Lanka's tourism sector has been badly hit by the pandemic.
President Donald Trump signed on Monday an executive order terminating a U.S. sanctions program on Syria, allowing an end to the country's isolation from the international financial system and building on Washington's pledge to help it rebuild after a devastating civil war.
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 7, a U.S. official said, as the U.S. president pressed for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the return of remaining hostages.
The Israeli military acknowledged on Monday that Palestinian civilians were harmed at aid distribution centres in the Gaza Strip, saying that new instructions had been issued to Israeli forces following "lessons learned".
Palestinians in northern Gaza reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks after the military issued mass evacuation orders on Monday, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration.
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot died in a crash while repelling a Russian air attack that involved hundreds of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, authorities said on Sunday, as Moscow intensifies night-time air barrages in the fourth year of war.
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