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166 Malé City Council employees affected by fire

Anaan Bushry
09 January 2023, MVT 19:30
Malé Neelan Fihaara Fire: In the early hours of 9th January 2023, the Neelan Fihaara in the south side of Malé caught on fire, and it spread to an accommodation block which housed workers employed by Malé City Council. PHOTO: ALI NISHAN / MIHAARU
Anaan Bushry
09 January 2023, MVT 19:30

The fire incident in Malé this morning has left 166 expatriate workers injured, Malé City Council has stated.

At around 5:30 in the morning, a fire broke out at Malé Neelan Fihaara, the auction market on the south side of the city. The accommodation block for the expatriate city council employees was also completely destroyed in the fire.

There were 165 Bangladeshis and one Indian resident there, according to the council.

Some of the workers had gone to the mosque for morning prayers when the fire started, while others were on duty. Therefore, not everyone was present at the accommodation block when the fire broke out.

All the residents were evacuated before the fire spread, a source told Mihaaru. "A few people were evacuated. Some were also unconscious. Thankfully, nobody was wounded."

Malé City Mayor Mohamed Muizzu said that arrangements are being made to give the workers temporary housing. However, he said that no decision has yet been made.

"We are attempting to set up a location. We are unable to coordinate the workers at this moment due to their sheer number. We're quite worried. The [National Disaster Management Authority] is also attempting to set up a location," said Muizzu.

The Mayor said that the immediate goal is to provide them with essentials such as food and water. The Red Crescent and the civic organisations are collaborating to move them to temporary shelters.

Imaduddin School is currently housing these staff. Some of them had managed to get some of their belongings out of the housing units. However, most of their possessions were reduced to ashes.

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