The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has requested the public to take safety precautions as toxic smoke has spread across the entirety of Malé following a dangerous fire incident tonight at the main warehouse of Prime Fertilizer in Maafannu.
When the MNDF arrived at the scene after receiving information that smoke was rising from the warehouse, the structure, made of materials such as tin and wood, was already heavily engulfed in flames, which were beginning to spread throughout the facility.
The fire, which broke out around 10:00 PM tonight, was brought under control after approximately an hour of efforts by the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service using water. Subsequently, after 11:00 PM, an airport fire engine was brought in to begin applying foam; by this time, the smoke cloud had spread throughout the surrounding area and across Malé.
Once the foam application began, a thick smoke screen rose to the point where visibility was lost. As the smell of chemicals and smoke emanated from the warehouse where chemicals were also stored, the HPA urged the public to take safety measures.
The effects of the smoke spreading from the fire site have reached all parts of Malé.
Things that can be done for safety:
- Avoid going to areas affected by the smoke.
- Cover the mouth and nose before going out into smoke-affected areas. It is best to use an N95 mask.
- People with respiratory and heart diseases should be extra cautious as they are more likely to experience severe adverse effects from the smoke.
- Close the doors and windows of houses to prevent smoke from entering.
- Seek medical assistance without delay if symptoms such as shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, severe coughing, or dizziness are observed.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated that although the fire at the warehouse was controlled before spreading elsewhere, 32 people from four houses were temporarily moved to the evacuation center currently established at the Social Centre due to the effects of the smoke.
According to the police, a woman whose condition worsened due to smoke inhalation had to be taken to the hospital during the incident.
When the fire broke out at the main warehouse of Prime Fertilizer—a company that imports and sells plant nutrients and various types of chemicals in the Maldives—80 percent of the company's goods were stored there. However, the facility was not insured.
