COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan rescuers pulled out more bodies from under enormous mudslides Sunday as the death toll climbed to 146 with 112 others missing.

Although the weather has cleared, more rains were forecast for Monday, threatening to extend the misery for more than 100,000 people displaced in the country’s western and southern regions that were lashed by two days of torrential rains.

Taking advantage of a lull in rains, soldiers cleared road access to most of the affected areas, while others were reachable by boat, said Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, who is heading the search and rescue mission.

People waded in knee-deep floodwaters to get to army trucks transporting relief supplies and taking away those waiting to be evacuated.

Ranasinghe said he didn’t expect to find any more survivors.

The United Nations said it is assisting in relief efforts in response to a government appeal. It also promised to donate water purification tablets, tents, and other supplies for the displaced. India sent a shipload of goods, while the United States and Pakistan also promised consignments of relief supplies.

Mudslides have become common during the monsoon season in Sri Lanka, a tropical Indian Ocean island nation, as land has been heavily deforested to grow export crops such as tea and rubber.

Last May, a massive landslide killed more than 100 people in central Sri Lanka. In 2003, flash floods killed about 260 people.

Officials said the latest deaths were reported in the western coastal district of Kalutara, the central southern district of Ratnapura, and the southern district of Matara.

The army, navy, and air force were continuing to try to reach marooned villagers and evacuate those living in areas prone to mudslides. Sri Lankan military and rescue teams have used boats and helicopters to reach those stranded, but officials said access to some areas was very difficult.

Mass funerals took place across the affected areas. Five members of one family who were buried in a mudslide — a husband and wife and their three teenage daughters — were laid to rest in a common grave Saturday afternoon. The family’s eldest son was the only survivor because he was not at home when the disaster occurred.

Associated Press