Authorities have provided temporary shelter to 77 people from 10 households following a fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse late last night, displacing residents in the surrounding area.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the incident occurred at around 9:45 p.m. at a warehouse located near the former Drug Court. The facility was identified as the main storage site of Prime Fertilizers, which imports and distributes fertilizers and chemical products.
According to NDMA, the blaze prompted the evacuation of 15 nearby houses, largely due to heavy smoke spreading across the area. By 2:30 a.m., a total of 454 individuals had registered at an evacuation center set up in response to the incident, including 69 women and 385 men.
While many of those displaced were able to find alternative arrangements, such as staying with relatives, authorities said 77 individuals required immediate assistance and were provided with temporary accommodation.
The NDMA noted that a significant portion of those affected were expatriate workers. Of the 302 expatriates displaced, their employers arranged accommodation for 280 individuals, while the Maldivian Red Crescent assisted an additional 20 people.
Emergency services managed to bring the fire under control approximately one and a half hours after it began, though efforts to fully extinguish the blaze continued until dawn. Seven individuals were taken to hospital for treatment after suffering from smoke inhalation, and all are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities confirmed that the warehouse sustained extensive damage and is no longer usable. The structure, built primarily from iron and corrugated zinc sheets, was heavily impacted by the fire, which also destroyed around 80 percent of the goods stored inside.
NDMA said the evacuations were carried out as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of residents, as thick smoke posed a significant risk to nearby households.
