Container blast in Batti kills over 60 including 25 cops [September 17 2010]

The death toll in the container blast at the  Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa has risen to 60, including 25 policemen and two Chinese nationals, Military spokesman Major General Ubhaya Medawala said.

The explosion occurred around 11.am. The Spokesman said three containers, loaded with explosives were to be used for the Eastern development work and kept at the Karadiyanaru Police station for safety, They belonged to a Chinese company. The dynamite were to be used for the road development work in the Eastern province.   The two Chinese workers had unloaded the explosives from the container when the first explosion occurred. Following the explosion the rest of the containers exploded. The explosives were to be used to blast a rock for the construction work. According to Police Media Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody, around 25 policemen are believed to be dead.

The 23 injured have been admitted to the Batticaloa hospital.

Police is investigating the incident.