12 killed in elderly care facility fire in west Sri Lanka

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

A total of 12 people have been confirmed dead in a fire that broke out in an elderly care facility in Sri Lanka's Western Province on Wednesday evening, local police said Thursday.

According to authorities, following the incident in Anguruwatota, Horana, rescuers managed to safely evacuate 44 individuals from the facility without injuries, while seven others were wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Three people are currently unaccounted for, authorities added.

The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated.