Five people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in an apartment in Hulhumale' Phase I earlier today, leaving one flat destroyed and displacing several people.

According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the fire at Flat 110 was reported at 1:10am and was brought under control by firefighters at 1:23am.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said seven people were living in the apartment, including two children under the age of 18. Five of the occupants were admitted to hospital, with one person sustaining burns to 12 percent of their hands and feet.

The ground-floor apartment was extensively damaged and is no longer habitable.

"NDMA is currently providing temporary shelter and essential humanitarian assistance to the family," the agency said in a post on X.

Smoke from the fire also rendered two other apartments, located on the first and third floors of the building, temporarily uninhabitable.

Eight additional residents were provided with temporary accommodation, including six adults and two four year old children.

NDMA, citing police, said the fire is believed to have started after a 'tool melting device' caught fire in the apartment's living room. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.