Fire breaks out at Army Ammunition Depot in Kosgama -- Update

The explosion that took place last evening at the Army camp in Salawa, Kosgama area has to a large extent been brought under control by morning today (6). Whatever it is, the Live broadcast brought by Sirasa from Kaluaggala at about 7 in the morning said that sounds of explosions were being heard from time to time even now. In the same way, circles of dense small

What the Army has announced by now is that about an extent of a perimeter of a kilometre only is considered as a risky zone and that those residing beyond that range could come back to their homes safely. However, reporters have informed that a perimeter of 2 kilometers is still under the control of the Army Security. At the time this fire broke out last evening around 5.45 the the soldier who was in charge of the ammunition met with death and he was the only casualty reported. Those describing the situation said that there was hardly any opportunity for him to get down from there and reach for safety.

With the explosion taking place, the petrol shed which was supposed to have been inside the Army camp too had caught fire and as such the situation had aggravated. This in fact was the reason who the fire had spread rapidly. Within the camp had been explosives used for light as well as heavy weapons in addition to gas cylinders. Therefore, this huge explosion had taken place affecting even beyond 10 kilometres or so. Because of the immense heat it had not been possible for anybody to stay anywhere around the place and even fire brigades were able to approach the location only after 10 in the night. As a result of explosive material floating from the camp now and again and falling on houses and shops, incidents of fire were reported yesterday. An incense workshop had caught fire and was later brought under control.

A soldier who was inside the camp at the moment of the incident had this to say to a newspaper: "Suddenly there was a sound of an explosion. I came out. At the same time the explosion aggravated. After a short time we came to realise that it is the ammunition store inside the camp that was exploding. We couldn't do anything. Though our comrade soldiers got hold of fire extinguishers and rushed towards the storeroom, it was not possible to get near the place. Just then we got an order asking us to go out of the camp. Simultaneously with the huge explosion the ammunition store appeared as a huge blaze. Just then the fuelling station close to the ammunition store went up in flames. It was mortar bombs and ammunition that were in this storeroom. When those started exploding at a stretch we began to run out. I could get hold of my mobile phone only. I took that into my hand and ran out. Many of us managed to come out. The soldier who was in the security cubicle had no time to get down as such. It was he who died".