A State Electric Company (STELCO) employee who suffered severe burns in last week’s fire at the old Hulhumalé powerhouse has been transported to Thailand for advanced medical care.
The 43-year-old technician, who was electrocuted during the incident, remains in critical condition, according to STELCO. The company confirmed that he was flown to Bangkok late last night on an air ambulance and has now been admitted to Bangkok Hospital for specialised treatment funded by STELCO.
From Emergency Response to Overseas Transfer
Immediately after the accident on Wednesday, the injured staff member was rushed to Hulhumalé Hospital, where emergency teams attempted to stabilise him. He was later transferred to ADK Hospital the same day as his condition required further intervention.
Doctors subsequently recommended overseas treatment due to the extent of the burns, prompting his transfer to Thailand.
Incident Linked to Faulty Switch Gear
STELCO previously stated that the fire broke out while technical staff were attending to an issue involving a switch gear unit at the old Hulhumalé power station. The malfunction triggered a series of outages that affected several areas in Malé and Hulhumalé, after multiple feeders tripped due to a medium-voltage panel fault.
Company Assures Full Support and Investigation
STELCO said it is in close contact with the employee’s family and has pledged full support throughout his recovery. The company also reiterated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences.
