Badulla Alugolla fire spreads over 20 acres

Colombo, July 1 (Daily Mirror) - A fire that broke out in the Alugolla forest reserve area of Badulla this afternoon (1) has so far destroyed nearly 20 acres of land, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC).

Authorities said that efforts to douse the blaze have been hampered by strong winds and the steep terrain, which has made access to the affected area extremely difficult.

Officials also noted that a government ammunition depot is located in the vicinity, raising concerns over a potential major disaster if the fire spreads further.

Personnel from the Badulla Police, the Eladaluwa Army Camp, the Badulla Municipal Council Fire Brigade, and the Forest Conservation Department have been deployed jointly to contain the fire.

Forest officials suspect that the blaze has been intensified by extremely dry weather conditions and strong winds prevailing in the area. They have also not ruled out the possibility of the fire being deliberately set, as investigations continue.