Afcons’ worker reported missing in Gulhifalhu blaze

A worker from Afcons Infrastructure has been reported missing in the fire at the company’s accommodation block in K. Gulhifalhu early Friday which left scores of workers injured.

Gulhifalhu houses some 800 workers from Afcons, an Indian contractor awarded multiple projects in Maldives, including the Thilamale’ Bridge project.

The fire incident, which took place early Friday, resulted in injuries to 76 workers.

Two workers reportedly went missing in the fire. One of the workers has since been found, while the other, a truck driver, remains missing.

“We realized one of the workers was missing during a headcount after the fire. We are therefore searching for him now,” said an official in charge of managing the bridge project.

The official told Sun that Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has searched the entire island, but found no trace of the missing worker.

MNDF is also assisting in searches of other sites.

“I am unable to say with certainty what happened to him at this time. The search is in progress,” said the official.

Afcons’ workers had staged a demonstration in Gulhifalhu to voice their concerns over the fire incident Saturday morning.

Afcons’ management is in talks with the workers to resolve the conflict.

Afcons has over 1,000 workers stationed in Maldives. Some 800 reside in Gulhifalhu, while 200 reside in the bridge worksite in Male’.