Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih highlighted delays on relocating workshops and garages outside of residential areas. He affirms the relocation will move forward at prompt pace soon.
The Maldives head of state made the affirmation after visiting the site of Maafannu Senrose (west-block), which was caught in a deadly blaze on Thursday early morning. The fire claimed multiple lives, with 10 confirmed deaths.
Speaking to local media outlets, President Solih confirmed all the warehouses storing hazardous chemicals were shifted outside of residential areas following another deadly fire back in September 2019. The fire in a Henveiru district residence, housed a chemical warehouse in the ground floor, had claimed one life.
Though President Solih confirmed the chemical warehouses were relocated, Housing Development Corporation (HDC) claimed otherwise. According to HDC, the company is still attempting to shift warehouses to industrial island; Thilafushi.
HDC notified that so far it had successfully shifted 34 of such warehouses to the industrial island already.
Following Thursday incident's aftermath, President Solih who visited the site to assess for the damage, said garages and workshops will be relocated after resolving overcrowding in the country's capital. "It has been delayed truly, but this is something we need to resolve promptly," President Solih added.
Speaking to local media, he further confirmed the industrial island has several plots allocated for garages and workshops.
Additionally, the Maldives statesman affirmed discussions with relevant authorities will follow soon to resolve the issue.
Thursday's incident is reported as the most harrowing fire ever recorded in Male' City in terms of lives claimed and property damage.
While authorities confirm 10 deaths, Maldives Police on Friday, November 11, confirmed these included seven Indians and two Bangladeshis.
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