A garbage dump collapsed, killing 28 people.

Sri Lankan officials say at least 28 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more are missing three days after a garbage dump collapsed near the capital Colombo.

A pile of garbage, reaching a height of 90 meters, collapsed, burying 150 homes. Government officials said 30 people are missing.

The scene at a Sri Lankan landfill. Photo: New York Times.

Rescue workers used heavy machinery to search for survivors trapped under the rubble. 1,700 nearby residents were evacuated due to fears that more debris could collapse.

Sri Lanka's economy continues to grow, but waste disposal remains one of the challenges the country faces.

Sri Lankan media outlets have cited several critics who argue that the problem of piled-up waste has been reported for a long time, but the government has been slow to find a solution.

According to VOV