Five people have been injured after a gas cylinder exploded at a café in Hulhumalé on Sunday morning, triggering a fire and causing customers to rush out of the establishment.
The incident occurred at around 10:00 am at a café near Ruggandu 1, according to Maldives Police Service.
Police said five people sustained injuries of varying severity, with four taken to Hulhumalé Hospital for medical treatment.
All four hospitalised individuals are foreign nationals employed at the café, police confirmed.
Although the explosion caused panic among customers, police said none of those dining at the establishment were injured.
Officers from Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident. However, the fire had already been extinguished by the time emergency personnel arrived.
Despite the explosion and subsequent fire, police reported no damage to the café building or its kitchen equipment.
Several plates were broken as customers hurried towards the exit after hearing the explosion, according to police.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
