This photo taken on Sept. 5, 2025 shows medical staff members treating an injured passenger at a hospital in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police. Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police.

Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition.

Police said the accident occurred on Thursday night when a bus carrying a group of municipal employees, who were returning from a leisure trip, veered off the road and plunged down a ravine a few hundred meters deep.

Given the rough terrain, rescue efforts involved police, the army, the air force, the fire department and local residents, police said, adding that operations continued till around 4 a.m. local time on Friday. ■

This photo taken on Sept. 5, 2025 shows medical staff members treating an injured passenger at a hospital in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police.

Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

This mobile phone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2025 shows the bus accident site in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police.

Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

This mobile phone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2025 shows the bus accident site in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police.

Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)