Death toll in Sri Lanka's massive landslide rises to eight

Death toll in Sri Lanka's massive landslide tragedy rose to eight on Monday after two more bodies, including that of a child was recovered, an official said.

Dozens of people are feared dead after being buried alive last Wednesday following a massive landslide in Haldammulla, located between the central and southern parts of Sri Lanka. As many as 120 houses were swept in the landslide triggered by torrential rain.

"Relief teams are determined to reach the area which is suspected to have buried the most number of bodies and debris as soon as possible," Central Province Security Commander Major General Mano Perera told reporters.

Hundreds of soldiers are still working round the clock to find bodies despite unrelenting rain and mist which had made search operations extremely difficult. Thousands of people in central Sri Lanka have also been evacuated after landslide warnings were released to seven districts over the weekend.

These people are living in makeshift relief camps in local schools, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC).

Iran, Maldives and Pakistan have become the latest countries to express their condolences with the latter extending assistance to the Sri Lankan government. India, the United Stattes and the United Nations have expressed their sympathies and made donations.

Local and foreign companies including several from China have also provided funds to assist with the relief effort. The government has pledged to build new houses for those who lost their homes in the landslide.