Several people were reportedly killed in a fire in Male, Maldive. (Twitter/@liyaakujjaa)Several people were killed in a fire in Male, the capital city of Maldives, Thursday, said the High Commission of India in Maldives. News agency AFP reported that 10 people were killed.
The bodies of 10 people were recovered from the upper floor of a building that houses migrant workers, said an AFP report quoting officials. It said that the fire appears to have originated from a vehicle repair garage on the ground floor of the burned structure. A fire department official said that it took four hours to put out the blaze.
Correction and update: 10 people died due to the fire happened in the ‘M. Niru Fehi’ located on Koaru Ken’di Magu in the Male’ city, Maldives. https://t.co/sWpygz01dk pic.twitter.com/kO7Sfs7wV4
— Zidhan Riyaz (@liyaakujjaa) November 10, 2022
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission said that there are reports of Indian nationals among those killed.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Malé which has caused loss of lives, including reportedly of Indian nationals. We are in close contact with the Maldivian authorities,” it said on Twitter.
We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Malé which has caused loss of lives, including reportedly of Indian nationals.
We are in close contact with the Maldivian authorities.
For any assistance, HCI can be reached on following numbers:
+9607361452 ; +9607790701— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) November 10, 2022
The High Commission added that they can be reached at +9607361452 or +9607790701 for assistance.
The National Disaster Management Authority of Maldives said that an evacuation centre has been set up in a nearby stadium.
“NDMA has established an evacuation center in Maafannu Stadium for those displaced and affected by the fire in Male’. Arrangements are being made to provide relief assistance and support,” it said in a tweet.