Some foreigners who died in Nirufehige fire still not identified: Minister Ihusaan

The identities of some of the ten foreigners who died in the M. Nirufehige fire in Malé City two years ago have still not been confirmed, revealed Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan.

The fire which broke out on 13th November 2022 is one of the biggest and deadliest fires in the country's history. The three storey building had a garage on the lowest floor, with the upper two floors being used as residential spaces by Indian, Bangadeshi and Sri Lankan expatriates.

While it is confirmed that eight Indian nationals and two Bangladeshi nationals died in the fire, the bodies were burned beyond recognition, authorities said at the time.

Speaking at the press conference by the ministry on Sunday to reveal information on its activities in matters related to expatriates, Minister Ihusaan revealed that there are plans to build accommodation blocks for expatriates, and added that the number of expatriate deaths in the Nirufehige fire was only confirmed after the fire was controlled.

"You would know, a fire incident took place in Maldives, in Malé. We only learned how many people were at the place after the fire was extinguished and the bodies were counted. To this day we have not been able to ID some of them," Minister Ihusaan said.

He also highlighted that if a disease breaks out or if emergency assistance is required, help or security cannot be provided without knowing how many people are at the location.

The minister further said that a Malaysian company has sent in a proposal to the ministry to build an accommodation block dedicated to foreign workers in the Maldives. Since this is something the government also wants, it is being considered, he added.

The Malaysian company which sent in the proposal is reported to be Altize Digital.