Fire at Addu waste dump site controlled after more than 12 hours

The fire which broke out at a waste dump site situated in Addu City’s Hithadhoo district on Monday has been brought under control.

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said that the fire was reported to Hithadhoo Fire Station at approximately 16:34pm on Monday evening upon which firemen were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Efforts to control the fire entailed digging a hole near the area to extract water which eventually came to fruition at approximately 13:30pm on Tuesday afternoon. MNDF reported that the site, after the fire was controlled, has been handed over to WAMCO.

The fire ignited on some of the waste dumped in the area. Although smoke continues to emit from the waste which caught on fire – MNDF noted that efforts were underway to pour sand on top of the waste using WAMCO’s excavators.

They thanked Hithadhoo Fire Station’s firemen, soldiers from MNDF’s southern area command, Maldives Police Service, Addu City Council, Gan International Airport and WAMCO for their cooperation in controlling the fire.

No one was injured in the fire.

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar told Sun that the site has been used as a waste dump for years.

While fires have previously broken out at the site – Mayor Nizar attributed the severity of the fire this time around to the humidity which had dried up the waste.