Four people, including two children and a teenager, have been recovered after being swept away by strong waves at Epamulla beach in Ja-Ela on Tuesday afternoon.
A tragic incident at Epamulla beach in Pamunugama, Ja-Ela has claimed four lives after individuals were swept into the sea while bathing on Tuesday afternoon. According to police, a group of bathers encountered unexpectedly strong waves that pulled them into the water, with at least four people going missing in the incident.
Search and rescue operations that followed have resulted in the recovery of all four bodies. The deceased have been identified as a 35-year-old woman, a 12-year-old girl, a 4-year-old girl, and a 13-year-old boy. While police initially indicated that a woman, her daughter, and two additional children had been caught in the waves, the specific family relationships among the victims have not been fully clarified in available reports.
Police and rescue teams conducted extensive search operations along the coastline following the incident. The recovery of the final body—that of the 13-year-old boy—was completed after the other three bodies had been retrieved earlier. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns regarding bathing conditions at Sri Lankan beaches, particularly during periods of rough sea conditions.