Several schoolchildren aged between 12 and 16, went missing after a tractor was swept away by floodwaters in Karaitivu, Amparai, earlier today, with a cyclone continuing to badly impact the island.
The incident occurred as the children were returning home from a madrasa school, travelling in the vehicle along with the tractor driver and his assistant. The tractor, used for ploughing, became stuck in the mud before being carried away by the strong flood currents in a nearby valley.
While two of the children were rescued and are currently receiving medical attention, the other five children and two adults remain unaccounted for. Police confirmed that an intensive search operation is underway to locate the missing.
The tragedy comes amid heavy rains that have caused widespread flooding in the region.
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