Sri Lanka nursing home fire kills 12, owner arrested on negligence charges

A devastating fire at a nursing home in western Sri Lanka has killed at least 12 residents and injured seven others, police said on Thursday.The fire broke out at the Mawpiya Sevana aged care home in Anguruwatota, about 65 kilometers southeast of Colombo in Kalutara district, around 5:30 pm on Wednesday. There were more than 70 elderly residents at the privately owned facility at the time of the fire.Police said 10 people died at the scene and two others later died of their injuries in hospital. A total of 51 residents were rescued and moved to temporary housing at a nearby school. The injured are still receiving treatment.Video from the scene showed the building was severely damaged, with charred furniture and equipment scattered everywhere. Firefighters, police and local residents worked together to control the blaze and evacuate survivors.Authorities arrested the owner and principal of the home on suspicion of negligence causing death. A magisterial inquiry is also underway as investigators continue to look into the cause of the fire.Initial reports suggested an explosion from a gas cylinder may have caused the fire to spread quickly, but police said the exact cause had not yet been determined.