Five two-story buildings on a popular street in Panadura collapsed simultaneously today, covering the area near Galle Road in dust.
The Panadura Municipal Council had contracted a company to work on the street’s drainage system. The contractor was using a backhoe to excavate the drains when the incident occurred.
Witnesses said the buildings collapsed just after the backhoe and a loaded dump truck left the site.
Nearby business owners believe vibrations from the backhoe may have caused the ground to shift, leading to the collapse. The buildings housed several businesses, including a dental clinic, a clothing store, and other shops, all of which were completely destroyed.
At the time of the collapse, two of the shops were open while three were closed. No injuries were reported in the incident.
