Five-storied building in Wellawatta ... collapses! -- 21 in hospital

Five-storied building in Wellawatta ... collapses! -- 21 in hospital

A storied-building in Wellawatta collapsed this morning at about 11. Already 21 persons who were injured have been hospitalised and police suspect that a further larger number of people have been inside the building. By now showers are coming down in that area and there is also a traffic congestion.

It is a building with many stories down Charlemont Road close to the Savoy cinema that has come

down in this manner. 6 wounded persons have been dispatched to Colombo National Hospital and 15 to Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, in this connection.

The building that collapsed was a location which was a festival hall, it is reported and as there had been no festival occasion today, the number of victims who succumbed to this accident may have been less, it is presumed. The building which consisted 5 stories had been in the process of renovation during recent times, it was understood. A spokeswoman of Kalubowila said that the injured were employees of that work-site. In the meantime what the Colombo fire rescuer unit said was that 2 ambulances and 6 disaster vehicles were dispatched to that location.

Police say that this accident had taken place this morning at about 11. A big traffic congestion was seen in the surrounding area and because a section of the collapsed building is leaning onto another building there is an accident-prone risk in the environment. Therefore authorities have cautioned those coming to see this incident, to refrain from coming there.