15 people from three apartments displaced in Hulhumale’ fire

Authorities arranged temporary accommodation for 15 people, including four children, living in three government-issued flats in Hulhumale’ Phase I on Thursday, after a fire broke out in a ground-floor apartment and caused smoke damage to neighboring flats.

According to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), the fire at a ground floor apartment at Flat 110 was reported to the Hulhumale’ Fire Station at around 01:10 am.

Firefighters, with the aid of police officers and civilians, managed to put out the fire at around 01:23 am.

There were seven people living in the apartment where the fire broke out.

Five people, including two children, sustained injuries and were rushed to the Hulhumale’ Hospital.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) identified them as four male and one female adult, and one girl and a boy.

The NDMA, quoting hospital officials, said that one of them sustained burns to 12 percent of their hands and legs, and remains hospitalized.

The other four victims have been discharged after treatment.

The condition of the individual who remains hospitalized is improving, added the NDMA, quoting the victim’s family.

The police believe the fire originated from a tool melting device kept in the apartment’s living room.

The fire caused extensive damage to the apartment, rendering it inhabitable.

The fire also rendered two additional apartments, one located on the first floor, and another on the third floor, inhabitable due to smoke damage.

In addition to the family of seven living in the apartment where the fire originated from, the incident also displaced eight more individuals, including two children, living in the two neighboring flats. They were identified as four males and four females.

The residents of all three apartments, totaling 15 individuals, have been provided temporary accommodation and other basic necessities by the NDMA.

The NDMA said that it is also working on providing psychological support to the victims through the Maldivian Red Crescent, and will be assessing the full extent of the damage to the apartments.