BATTICALOA: Around 20-30 Police personnel, attached to KARADIYANARU Police Station in BATTICALOA and 2 Chinese nationals were believed killed this morning (17) when a stock of explosives, kept for safety in the Police Station compound exploded by accident.
Preliminary reports said a Chinese company, engaged in construction and development work in the area has left 3 container loads of explosives, in the Police Station compound for safety and security.
However, two Chinese nationals of the construction company have tried to take some of those explosives in another vehicle to their worksite this morning (17) but the explosives while being loaded into their vehicle have suddenly exploded and caught fire, causing other three stationary containers also catch fire and explode simultaneously.
49 injured including civilians in the explosion have been rushed to BATTICALOA General Hospital. 5 more seriously injured were airlifted to Colombo National Hospital.
The flames that engulfed the Police Station with a string of simultaneous explosions brought death to at least 20-30 Police personnel serving the Police Station. Special Police teams with the government analyst had already been flown to BATTICALOA for investigations.
