Four people, including the manager, two workers, and a lorry driver, lost their lives after an explosion of an LP gas tank at a fuel station near Wehera Junction on Colombo Road early this morning.
According to police, four others sustained injuries and were admitted to the hospital for treatment.
The explosion occurred around 11 p.m. when a lorry arrived to refill LP gas at the station. Initial investigations suggest that one of two large gas tanks on-site — each holding approximately 6,000 litres — exploded during the filling process, setting the area ablaze.
Authorities suspect that the blast may have been caused by improper handling of the gas transfer by an untrained worker. It is believed the victims were trying to manage the refilling process when the tank erupted, resulting in fatal burns.
Emergency crews from the Kurunegala Municipal Council Fire Department, Kurunegala Police, and nearby Sri Lanka Army personnel responded swiftly. They battled the flames for nearly two and a half hours before fully bringing the fire under control, according to reporters.
Municipal workers were able to safely secure the second gas tank, preventing a larger disaster.
The charred remains of the victims were recovered once the fire was extinguished. Police have launched a full investigation into the cause of the explosion
