COLOMBO, Feb 19 (NNN-SLNEWS) – A fire erupted at a garbage dump in Kerawalapitiya, in the outskirts of Sri Lanka’s Colombo city, yesterday, leading to several fire brigades being deployed at the scene.
According to Sri Lanka Airforce (SLA) Spokesperson, Group Captain Dushantha Wijesinghe, a Bell 412 helicopter, equipped with a bambi bucket was also deployed, to douse the flames which were said to be fast spreading.
The fire erupted yesterday evening.
Wijesinghe said, the Colombo Fire Brigade and the SLA firefighting units, were presently deployed at the scene to bring the flames under control. Even till last night, the fire was yet to be extinguished.
No injuries were reported, eyewitnesses on the ground said.
Wijesinghe said, the fire was spreading rapidly due to the dry weather and strong breeze.
In 2017, a massive garbage dump in Meethotamulla, also located in the outskirts of Colombo city collapsed, causing a massive landslide, killing 32 people, as an entire neighborhood was buried.
In 2018, part of the Meethotamulla garbage dump caught fire, which led to a massive operation to bring the flames under control.– NNN-SLNEWS
