Many documents lost in the fire, attempting to recover: Azim

A lot of documents in the Vital Registration Office of Malé City Council were destroyed in the fire that broke out in the Tin Building out of which the Housing Ministry, and the Construction Ministry were based out of, which also spread to the Green Building last Thursday, said Malé's Mayor Adam Azim.

Important documents, including birth certificates of Malé residents, were stored in a section of the building affected by the fire, which housed the Vital Registration Office. The fire destroyed three ministry offices, and while the MNDF worked to contain the damage, only a small number of documents were successfully recovered.

Following the fire, the council on Thursday moved all services of the Vital Registration Office to the city council office on the first floor of Amin Avenue in Hulhumalé.

However, the documents from the burnt building have since been moved to a Galolhu Madhurasa hall to resume services in Malé.

Speaking to the media, Azim said that an assessment of the damage is being conducted and the damage will be known only after the assessment is completed.

The city council's Vital Registration Office handles the management of birth certificates and death records, as well as residence and land registration.

He said a lot of documents were lost in the fire, and that recovery options are being explored.

"We are currently saving what can be saved and looking at where the documents are available. We will re-start the service very soon," Azim said.

Azim said they are working to sort out what documents are available and what are missing.

“It will be difficult for employees to provide services unless the documents are very well organised,” Azim said.

Azim also said a place for the staff would be decided soon. He said that they have repeatedly requested the government for a location and that they would work 24 hours if needed, to resume services.

He further said that the government has confirmed that another school hall will be arranged for the work tomorrow, which would speed up the process as well.

"It is the responsibility of the state to provide facilities to the city council. It is difficult for the city council to provide services to all the people of the city without a large building. We have repeatedly asked for that," Azim said.

Azim said the lack of a building to run the city council has always been a concern and said that eight services are currently operating out of eight locations. Instead, a quality building is planned to be constructed to provide services, he said.