Seven men were injured on Wednesday during a gas explosion aboard a boat named 'Best Line' which was docked at North Male' Harbour.
The incident occurred at approximately 1915 hrs after gas started leaking from cylinders stored in the boat's cargo hold.
Two of the injured men are Bangladeshi nationals while the remaining five are local men aged 30, 37, 42, 52 and 67 years.
The individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGHM). According to the hospital, one Bangladeshi national was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
IGMH spokesperson Ismail Ahmed disclosed that more than 80 percent of the individual's body was severely burned.
The remaining men sustained burns of varying severity and are being treated at the High Dependency Unit. Two individuals were discharged from the hospital after being treated for smoke inhalation.
The boat's Captain Ahmed Didi denied that the incident resulted from an explosion. He asserted that a fire broke out following the gas leak.
The boat, which regularly travels between the atolls of Addu and Gaafu Dhaalu, was not damaged during the incident.
The police investigation revealed that a total of 83 cylinders were found to be leaking and that a large number of goods were placed directly on top the gas cylinders.
The police are conducting further investigations into the incident.
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