Sri Lanka blasts: 75 dead, hundreds injured in multiple church explosions

At least 75 people were killed and more than 150 people were injured when explosions rocked at least three churches and two hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday morning as Christians celebrated Easter, authorities said.

The bodies of the dead have been received at Colombo National Hospital, according to hospital sources. Most of those injured were also taken there, hospital officials said.

Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera confirmed the explosions, some of which happened in the capital of Colombo.There have been “many casualties including foreigners,” tweeted Sri Lankan MP Harsha de Silva.

De Silva said two locations of the explosions were Kochchikade church and Shangri-La Hotel in Kingsbury, Colombo.

“Horrible scenes, I saw many body parts strewn all over,” De Silva said after visiting the scene. Rescue operations are underway, the MP said, adding that emergency crews are at the scenes operating in “full force.”

De Silva said the heads of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force have convened for an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and multiple other ministers in the cabinet.

The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Foreign Affairs were also present, according to de Silva’s tweet.”

All necessary emergency steps taken by Gov of Sri Lanka. Soon official statement will be issued.”

Source: CNN