Fire breaks out in Addu

A fire broke out in the forest near the harbor of Addu City’s Hulhudhoo district on Friday, marking the second such incident in the same area within hours.

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)’s spokesperson said firefighters from the Hulhumeedhoo Fire Station arrived at the scene of the fire at 08:03 pm Friday.

The fire spread to containers in the area containing asphalt, said the spokesperson.

The incident came after firefighters put out a fire in a waste pile in the same area earlier Friday.

MNDF’s spokesperson said firefighters responded to the earlier fire at 05:08 pm. The fire was put out at 06:50 pm.

A local resident who spoke to Sun said that both fires were deliberately set.

This has yet to be confirmed through official channels.

The second fire was put out at 09:30 pm.

Firefighters continue to pour water into the containers to cool the asphalt, said the spokesperson.