Garage fire: Last body identified

The only unidentified body from the 10 deceased in the fire at M. Nirufehi on early Thursday morning has been identified.

Police said that it was an Indian man.

The fire broke out in a car repair garage in M. Nirufehi, located near the Maaveyo Mosque, around 12:30am on early Thursday morning. The garage is located on the ground floor, while the first-floor houses cramped living quarters for migrant workers – the only ventilation – a single window. Authorities state that cooking gas cylinders were next to each bed, where the migrants slept.

The quarters housed migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

10 people died, while one, identified as a Bangladeshi national, is in critical condition. Authorities have confirmed the deceased as four women including three Indians and one Bangladeshi, and six men. The five men that were previously identified were four Indians and one Bangladeshi.

Police said that the identities of all the deceased have been shared with the Foreign Ministry, and the consulates of their respective nations in the Maldives.

As per the authorities, the migrant quarters housed at least 38 people, and there were cooking gas cylinders placed next to each bed. 28 were rescued, of which nine remain under NDMA’s care; six women and three men. 

The incident marks the fire with the highest number of fatalities in the Maldives.