Deadly Care Home Blaze
Sri Lankan Care Home Fire Kills 12, Police Investigate Suspected Gas Explosion
Anonymous
A fire at the Mawpiya Sevana/Maupiya Sewana elderly care home in Anguruwatota, southeast of Colombo, killed 12 people and injured several others, Sri Lankan police and officials said. Police said 51 residents and staff were rescued and moved to temporary accommodation at a nearby government facility, while forensic teams searched the wreckage and found additional charred remains, confirming the full death toll, including a 17-year-old boy. Officials said the privately run facility also housed young people with mental health issues. The director/owner or manager of the home was arrested as investigations continued, and a magisterial inquiry was launched with multiple police teams involved. Authorities said early reports suggested a possible gas cylinder explosion helped spread the flames, but the exact cause had not been determined.
Key Points
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Police said the fire began at about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and reported that 10 residents died at the premises while two later died of injuries after being admitted to Horana Base Hospital (7 others were also reported injured overall).
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Officials described the rescue arrangements: police spokesperson Frederick Wootler said the 51 people rescued were “being looked after by the military and public officials in the area,” and added that two police teams were conducting further investigations.
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Investigators recovered additional remains during the magisterial process, including “charred bodies … including that of a cat,” and the report said it was described by police as the “worst” fire-fatality incident in recent times on the island.
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An AFP photographer reported seeing the care-home manager escorted in handcuffs as police interviewed survivors and neighbours, while forensic experts searched the wreckage and “discovered seven more charred bodies,” raising the death toll.
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