© AP Photo/Eranga JayawardenaThe scene after a massive landslide in Kegalle District, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Massive landslides triggered by torrential rains crashed down onto three villages in the central hills of Sri Lanka, and more than 200 families were missing Wednesday and feared buried under the mud and debris, the Sri Lankan Red Cross said.
The landslide struck the central Aranayake area Tuesday night following three days of heavy rain described as the most severe since 2010.
Authorities said Siripura, Pallebage and Elagipitya villages, located about 72km from the capital Colombo, were buried and that rescue operation has become difficult as electricity has been cut off.
Red Cross Director General Neville Nanayakkara said around 300-400 people are feared to have died in the Aranayaka landslide.
Rescue operations has been further hampered as reaching the mountainous areas is difficult.
"Rescuers would have to get there by foot and start digging with their hands before we can get any heavy equipment in to the site," said Sri Lanka Red Cross Communications Manager Mahieash Johnny.
Pradeep Kodippili, the spokesperson for the country's Disaster Management Center, said 15 bodies from two locations had been recovered.
Kodippili also said that the actual numbers of people and houses caught in the landslide were not available.
Government officials said some 35 people have so far died due to severe weather across the country.
Some 196,000 people have reportedly left their homes due to heavy rain. Early on Wednesday, some 350 people were transferred to safety during rescue operations.
Comment: Deadly floods and landslides hit Sri Lanka after 13 inches (355mm) of rain in 24 hours