Gov’t Building Fire Now Controlled, Over Two Dozen in Need of Shelter

Over two dozen people are in need of shelter after the devastating fire in a government building in the capital Male’ early Thursday, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said.

The building, which houses the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development; the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure; and the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, has been severely damaged, almost beyond use according to authorities.

Several houses around the vicinity of the building had also suffered varying degrees of damage.

According to NDMA, authorities are now working to relocate 29 people which includes 15 men and 14 women from three different residential buildings to temporary shelters.

NDMA has converted Maldives Centre for Social Education (MCSE), also known as the Social Centre into an emergency evacuation centre. Authorities have also initiated efforts to offer psychosocial support to the victims.

In response to the emergency, NDMA had said it had identified around 50 people in need of assistance following the fire.

The fire was reported just after sunrise., and the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had worked for hours to control the blaze.

Fire department has now said the fire has now been fully controlled.

However, the effects of the fire are still inside the building, the fire brigade told PSM News. The efforts to completely extinguish the fire might continue until late tonight, a fire brigade official said.

The Construction Ministry and Infrastructure Ministry and Environment Ministry in separate statements said the fire had crippled their operations and have been forced to suspend public services for now. However, both ministries said they were trying to work out a solution to resume services.

The Housing Ministry meanwhile said it was switching most of its service to a building in the reclaimed suburb, Hulhumale’.

Thick smoke emanating from the fire had spread to large parts of the capital, with the Ministry of Health urging caution.

The Health Ministry has advised to seek immediate medical care immediately if experiencing breathing difficulties or dizziness, adding that people with respiratory and heart conditions would be more vulnerable to the effects of smoke inhalation.

The Ministry has also urged the public to close doors and windows to prevent smoke from entering and to steer clear of smoke-affected areas unless absolutely necessary.

According to authorities, despite the severe damage to the building, no one was hurt in the incident.