Authorities demolish Male’ building after massive blaze

Authorities have begun demolishing a building in the Henveiru district of Male’ which burned down in a massive fire on Monday.

The Local Government Ministry said its Public Works Department began demolishing the building on Tuesday.

It did not say when it expects the demolition to be complete.

The fire broke out at Noohimeri, located in the busy Sosun Magu of Male’ City, at around 2:47 pm on Monday. The ground and first floors of the building houses the Gaamagu Café, while the two upper floors house accommodation blocks for expatriate workers. The fire originated from the café’s kitchen, located on the first floor.

Made of tin and wood, the building was quickly engulfed in flames, and the fire spread to the adjacent residential building.

Firefighters managed to put out the fire at around 04:30 pm.

Two people were taken to the ADK Hospital for smoke inhalation; a 30-year-old woman of foreign nationality and a 48-year-old woman of Maldivian nationality. Both women were discharged following treatment.

The fire also affected 57 people; 37 Maldivians and 20 expatriate workers. They are being provided humanitarian assistance by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).