BATAGODA, Sri Lanka — A devastating fire ripped through an elderly care facility in the Batagoda area of Aguruwathota, leaving at least 11 people dead and sparking a massive emergency rescue operation.

The catastrophic blaze erupted on Wednesday evening, June 3, 2026 at the Mawpiya Sevana Elderly Care Home, which housed 71 vulnerable residents at the time. What began as a routine evening quickly escalated into a nightmare as thick smoke and raging flames engulfed the facility, trapping many elderly residents inside.

Emergency responders, alongside local police, firefighters from the Horana Municipal Council, and courageous neighborhood volunteers, rushed to the scene to battle the inferno. First responders launched a dramatic rescue operation, successfully pulling 51 residents from the burning structure.

The rescue efforts faced extreme danger as the fire spread with terrifying speed. According to police reports, a gas cylinder inside the facility exploded during the height of the blaze, fueling the intensity of the flames and complicating the evacuation.

The death toll from the blaze has risen to 11 individuals, while at least seven residents remain hospitalized at nearby medical facilities receiving treatment for their injuries. Additionally, rescue teams are continuing their search operations as three residents still remain missing and unaccounted for.

As day broke, the sheer scale of the tragedy became clear. While authorities initially recovered nine bodies from the charred remains of the facility, the death toll sadly rose to 11 after an injured victim succumbed to severe wounds at the Horana Hospital, and additional casualties were confirmed.

For the 51 traumatized survivors, the local community has quickly rallied to provide shelter. The rescued residents were temporarily evacuated to the nearby Batagoda School, where emergency beds, food, and medical checks were arranged. Local officials have stated that plans are actively underway to relocate the seniors to a secure, long-term facility to ensure their continued safety and emotional well-being.

A formal inquiry is officially underway to pinpoint exactly what sparked the fatal blaze. The Horana Magistrate and the Government Analyst have visited the destroyed facility to conduct a rigorous forensic on-site investigation.

While the early gas cylinder explosion heavily accelerated the disaster, police emphasize that the definitive root cause of the initial fire remains unknown as investigators sift through the wreckage. Search and recovery teams remain on the scene, meticulously combing through the debris for the three residents who are still missing.