Eyewitnesses: 'Debris everywhere'

The injured were transferred to hospitals in the vicinity

A suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka has killed at least 90 navy personnel, the Sri Lankan military says.

Local journalist Indumathie Jayasena was among the first people given access to the scene. She described the aftermath of the blast.

"Everywhere there were scattered bags of clothes, helmets, boots, equipment and the belongings of the sailors, whatever they must have been taking on holiday. There is debris from the suicide bomber's vehicle as well."

She said that the blast took place in a bus park used by the navy for sailors going on leave.

"There were about 14 buses carrying sailors in the convoy. They were parked at the spot and they were all damaged.

"People do not live nearby and so there was no damage done to homes or to civilians."

A staff member from a nearby hotel told the BBC News website that the blast took place in a cleared area used as an army bus park.

"It is quite an isolated place used by the army to set down and pick up army personnel," he said.

"When we went to look at the scene, the road was jammed with vehicles and the army wouldn't let us through. It was chaotic and people were very worried."

Hospital injured

There are bad injuries and they are all consistent with a bomb blast. Dr Herman Perera

Many of the injured sailors have been transferred to hospitals in the vicinity.

Dr Herman Perera, acting director of the Kurunegela hospital said his hospital had admitted 70 of the casualties.

"We received many casualties. Unfortunately, four of the injured died and we have transferred about eight more patients to the national hospital in Colombo.

"There are bad injuries and they are all consistent with a bomb blast. They are burn injuries, lacerations, fractures and some serious head injuries," he told the BBC News website.

"We have a disaster plan and we are working according to that plan and will continue working until tomorrow morning. Doctors are carrying on beyond their shifts - this is why we are able to manage."

Six of the injured were admitted to Anuradhapura General Hospital. A doctor on the casualty ward there said that "patients were in a bad state".