Flood-mitigation mission turns fatal as five Navy personnel die

Police have confirmed that the five Sri Lanka Navy personnel who went missing during a flood-mitigation operation in the Chundikkulam area have died.

The sailors were engaged in work to widen a waterway when they went missing earlier today, according to police. The Navy had immediately launched a special search operation, deploying search and rescue teams to the site.

Navy Spokesperson Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya said the personnel were part of a flood-relief team operating in the area when the incident occurred.

Search operations continued through the evening as authorities worked to recover all five bodies amid challenging weather conditions.

(Newswire)