Several charred bodies have been recovered at an elders’ care home in the Galpatha area of Horana where a fire broke out on Tuesday (June 3) evening, as police continue searching for 11 residents reported missing.
A total of 72 elderly people were staying at the home at the time of the blaze, Ada Derana reported. Police rescued 44 residents without injuries, while eight people who sustained burn injuries were admitted to Horana District Hospital. The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished after firefighters, police and area residents joined the response.
In an earlier update issued at 7:33 p.m., police had said 44 individuals were pulled from the facility while seven of those rescued were initially admitted to hospital. Police Spokesman SSP F.U. Wootler said the evacuated were taken to Galpatha and Horana hospitals with injuries and smoke inhalation complications, Newswire reported. NewsFirst’s initial count put rescues at 55 with three unaccounted for before figures were revised, and a later NewsFirst update placed the number rescued at 47 with 11 missing once families began reporting unreachable residents. Five fire engines were deployed to the scene, the Fire Brigade said.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. Horana Police are conducting further investigations.
The Anguruwatota incident follows a string of recent fire emergencies across the country. A blaze at an Embilipitiya garment factory on the same day left eight workers hospitalised, while a Batticaloa hotel fire in late May killed two children from smoke inhalation. Earlier this year, a Colombo Dam Street fire drew 10 engines to contain damage in a densely built commercial block.
