A passenger bus carrying municipal employees crashed Thursday night along the Ella–Wellawaya mountain road, plunging into a deep ravine and resulting in at least 15 deaths and 16 injuries, according to police statements.
The crash occurred near the 23rd–24th km posts in southeastern Sri Lanka, roughly 280 kilometers east of Colombo.
Initial investigations suggest the bus was traveling at high speed when it collided with another vehicle, breached roadside guardrails, and tumbled nearly 1,000 feet into a steep gorge.
Around 30 staff members of the Tangalle Municipal Council, returning from an excursion to Ella, were on board.
Rescue operations involved the army, air force, fire services, police, and local residents, and continued into the early hours of Friday amid challenging terrain conditions.
Aerial footage shows the mangled bus at the ravine’s bottom, with emergency personnel working to retrieve victims.
Officials say that among the injured are five children, and several victims remain in critical condition at nearby hospitals.
This crash is one of the worst recent transport disasters in Sri Lanka’s mountainous regions, where narrow roads, poor maintenance, and reckless driving continue to pose severe risks.
The incident follows a tragic May crash in Kotmale that killed 22 people—where driver fatigue was found to be a key factor.
An inquiry is now underway to determine the precise cause of the latest accident and to hold responsible parties accountable.