Five dead, 11 missing in fire at Horana elderly care home
COLOMBO – At least five elderly residents were killed and 11 others remained missing after a devastating fire swept through an elderly care home in Horana on Wednesday (3), triggering a major rescue operation involving firefighters, police and local residents.
The blaze broke out at an elders’ care facility in the Galpatha area of Horana, where 72 residents were housed at the time of the incident.
Police said rescue teams have recovered several charred bodies from the premises, with five deaths confirmed so far. Search operations are continuing for 11 residents who remain unaccounted for.
Authorities said 44 residents were safely evacuated from the facility, while eight others sustained burn injuries and were admitted to the Horana District Hospital for treatment. Several additional residents were treated for smoke inhalation.
The fire, which completely destroyed the care home, was eventually brought under control following an intensive response by firefighters, police officers and area residents who rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the incident.
According to preliminary information, a gas cylinder inside the facility is believed to have exploded during the fire, contributing to the rapid spread of the flames. However, investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the blaze.
Police have called in forensic experts to assist with the investigation and identify the victims.
“We have deployed forensic teams to establish the cause of the fire and support the ongoing investigation,” a police official at the scene said.
The incident is one of the deadliest fires reported in Sri Lanka in recent years. Fire-related fatalities are relatively uncommon in the country, although several major incidents have occurred in recent years, including a deadly fuel station fire in 2025.
Horana Police are continuing investigations while search and recovery operations remain underway at the site.
-ENCL
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