Only one of three ministries that burned down in 2024 blaze was insured

The police said on Thursday that only one of three ministries that burned down in the large blaze in 2024 at a block of government buildings in Male’ City was insured.

The fire broke out at a block of government buildings located in the Ameenee Magu of Male’ City at around 06:00 am on December 12, 2024. The buildings housed the Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and three sections of the Male’ City Council – including the Vital Registration Department.

It marked the worst fire at a government building in the country’s history.

At a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, Head of Major Crimes Investigation, Superintendent of Police Abdulla Rasheed noted the fire resulted in massive damages to the government buildings.

“As such, the Housing Ministry and the Infrastructure Ministry burned to the ground, while we were able to save some items from the building that housed the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy and building that housed the Male’ City Council. We found that of the three government buildings affected in the fire, only the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy was insured,” he said.

The massive fire led to loss of important documents, including those related to housing.

The failure to disclose timely information regarding the fire spurred speculations, including allegations of arson.

However, the police have said there was no evidence of arson, and have ruled the cause of the fire as an electric short circuit.