Twelve people have died following a fire at a care home for elderly residents in Anguruwatota, Sri Lanka, on Thursday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which also left several people injured.
Police spokesperson Frederick Wootler said eight people are receiving treatment in hospital, while 51 residents were rescued and are being cared for by the Army and other public officials.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Authorities have arrested the director of the care home while investigations continue into the incident and alleged negligence by the management.
The tragedy comes amid a number of significant fire incidents across Sri Lanka in 2026, including:
Following these incidents, the Colombo Municipal Council has been enforcing stricter fire safety regulations. These require high-occupancy buildings to install automatic fire detection and voice evacuation systems.
Penalties for non-compliance include mandatory operational shutdowns for buildings that fail to meet the new safety requirements.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump thr...
Scientists have identified a planetary system in the Milky Way unlike anything seen before, leaving astronomers debating how to classify one of its un...
Afghanistan recorded 483 suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and 21 deaths in June 2026, a 174.4% increase from May, with the W...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Afghanistan recorded 483 suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and 21 deaths in June 2026, a 174.4% increase from May, with the World Health Organization (WHO) linking the surge to livestock contact and animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha.
Türkiye's parliament has approved a two-year extension of the country's military deployment in Somalia, reinforcing deepening security ties between Ankara and Mogadishu as the Horn of Africa nation continues to battle terrorism, piracy and other security threats.
Georgia's fuel imports from Belarus surged by 3,469% in the first half of 2026 as Russia's export bans disrupted regional supplies, highlighting a rapid shift in the country's fuel market.
Tashkent attracted $4.3 billion in foreign direct investment and loans during the first half of 2026, reinforcing its position as Uzbekistan’s leading destination for investment as the capital continued to outpace the national economy.
Pakistan stepped up its economic engagement with the U.S. during Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's visit to Washington this week, holding talks on investment, development finance and access to international capital markets as Islamabad seeks to broaden its economic partnerships.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment