A huge fire broke out at Neelan Fihaara; the auction house in Malé this morning.
The fire, which broke out at around 5 a.m., has now been brought under control.
The incident was reported to the police at 5:49 a.m. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). A vehicle was also brought from the airport to extinguish the fire.
Neelan Fihaara, located on the south side of Malé, houses and sells a large quantities of wood, metal and plastic. The items had caught on fire and the whole area has been filled with smoke.
According to eyewitness reports the accommodation block housing around 200 employees of Malé City Council, adjacent to Neelan Fihaara was completely burned down.
They were evacuated from the scene when the fire was discovered.
Foreign workers in three accommodation blocks adjacent to Neelan Fihaara were affected by the fire. Those who were asleep when the fire broke out were evacuated by foreigners who arrived after morning prayers.
Some clothes and other belongings were removed before the fire reached the building.
Those evacuated from the buildings are currently at Imaduddin School. National Disaster Management Centre is currently at the location.
Some people in the area said Neelan Fihaara caught on fire with a loud explosion. So far, there has been no reports of injuries in connection with the fire.
Some schools in the area have been suspended due to heavy rise of smoke. Morning sessions at both Imaduddin School and Izzuddin School were suspended.
Many roads between Villa College and State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) had been closed to public traffic. Police are urging people in smoke-affected homes to wear masks to protect themselves from the fumes.
Neelan Fihaara has been subject to incidents several times in the past causing heavy damages to the building. The place has sustained heavy damages this time as well.
There has been reports of various fire incidents across the country from last week. A fire broke out in a building at Fiyoaree School in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll last night, a fire broke out in a landfill in Raa Atoll Alifushi last Saturday. The building that caught fire at Fiyoaree School also houses classes for children. The building was burned to the ground.
A major investigation in to the recent incidences of fire in Male’ & atolls is now launched by @PoliceMv. We call for public support for it. Also, public order officers’ way of handling an elderly woman at the protest last night in Male’ is of concern. Will be looked in to.
— Mohamed Hameed (@M_Hameedh) January 9, 2023
Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed said the fires are being investigated. The public's assistance has also been requested.
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