TIMES international
A blaze at an unregistered nursing home in western Sri Lanka has killed 12 residents and injured eight, authorities said, with 51 others rescued from the overcrowded facility.
The fire erupted late Wednesday in Anguruwatota town, where people with mental illnesses were also housed, according to AP.
Police arrested the home director on suspicion of causing deaths through negligence, while an investigation is ongoing.
Police spokesman Fredrick Wootler said firefighters and police, assisted by soldiers, helped evacuate residents to safety.
Associated Press footage showed the building gutted, with charred furniture scattered and bodies lying nearby. Local television channel Hiru broadcast scenes of the fire raging as responders worked to control it.
Chathura Mihudum, director of the National Secretariat for Elders, confirmed the home was not registered and had previously been warned to follow legal guidelines.
He said the facility, intended for 15 people, was dangerously overcrowded, with 71 residents crammed into the space.
Government officials had inspected the institution before and instructed the management to comply with regulations, Mihudum said, without giving further details.
Authorities said the cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Investigators are examining whether safety lapses or negligence contributed to the high death toll.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of unlicensed care facilities in Sri Lanka, where oversight is limited and many homes house vulnerable populations, including the elderly and mentally ill.
Police and rescue teams worked through the night to contain the blaze and provide medical attention to the injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals.
Residents who escaped the fire were later transported by buses to safer locations.
Officials warned families and the public to verify the registration status of care homes before admitting vulnerable individuals, highlighting the risks posed by overcrowding and non-compliance with safety standards.
The Sri Lankan government has faced criticism in the past for failing to enforce regulations at private care institutions, and this tragedy is likely to prompt calls for stricter monitoring and licensing.
The fire at Anguruwatota underscores the dangers faced by residents of informal nursing homes, where emergency preparedness is often inadequate and overcrowding can exacerbate fatalities.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and further details on the victims and circumstances are expected to emerge as officials complete their inquiry.
