A devastating fire at a gas filling station in Wehera, Kurunegala, has claimed the lives of four individuals, including the station manager, according to police reports.
The incident occurred around 11:00 p.m. last night (07), when a 6,000-litre gas tank exploded while a lorry was being refilled. The explosion triggered a fire that led to the fatal casualties and left four others injured.
The injured individuals were promptly admitted to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Emergency crews from the Kurunegala Municipal Council Fire Brigade managed to extinguish the blaze. In a critical operation, municipal workers were able to safely shut off a second 6,000-litre gas tank, which had not exploded, thereby preventing further damage. Authorities noted that the resulting destruction was kept to a minimum due to their swift action.
The Kurunegala Police have launched a full investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
