Wellawatta building collapse: One person succumbs to injuries
May 18, 2017 10:47 pm
One person who was injured due to the building collapse in Wellawatta has succumbed to injuries, the Director of the National Hospital said.
At least 27 individuals were injured and hospitalised after the building located near Savoy Cinema on Charlemont Road in Wellawatta collapsed this morning.
Police and the army joined in rescue operations looking for survivors.
The five-storey building in the Wellawatta area of Colombo collapsed while construction labourers were working at the site.
The building, used as a wedding reception hall, had previously shown signs of cracks, but the warnings had been ignored by the management, according to workers.
Police are investigating on whether the owner failed to follow instructions by local authorities.
Hundreds of soldiers, police and firefighters are still searching for anyone who might be trapped inside the building.
Earlier today, Military spokesman Brig. Roshan Seneviratne said soldiers were in contact with one person trapped.
He said the victim is unable to come out due to a concrete wall and soldiers are talking to him through a hole made through the concrete.
The reason for the collapse was not immediately known.
