Double tragedy strikes Malé City with twin fire incidents

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, September 6, 2023, a devastating fire erupted in Malé City, engulfing a retail outlet and parked vehicles in its fiery path. Located near Auto Parts Garage in the Galolhu ward, Vega Point, a bustling retail establishment, fell victim to the blaze, which also claimed nearly 15 motorbikes parked in close proximity. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m., sending shockwaves throughout the community.

Vega Point, a renowned retailer, suffered immeasurable losses as the fire ravaged its premises, leaving its entire inventory in ruins. The aftermath was a grim reminder of the vulnerability of businesses and individuals to such catastrophic events.

While there have been no official reports of casualties or injuries, the incident drew an immediate response from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). 

This was, however, not the only fire incident to take place in Male’ City today as a house located near the SHE building also caught on fire. MNDF personnel were deployed to manage this fire incident as well. And while the damages following this incident still remain unclear, yet another string of fire incidents taking place in Male’ City raises concerns among citizens as well. To make matters even more concerning, the Maldives police have now reported that two persons of interest have been arrested in connection to the fire that took place near the SHE building. 

Fire incidents in Male’ City have become a major concern among citizens, especially following the deathly fire that took the lives of 10 expatriate workers in 2022. With each of these fire incidents, however big or small they may be, there is always the grim reminder that every single fire incident that takes place in Male’ City has the potential to become a much larger issue due to the narrow and close proximity of buildings as well as the lack of safety in a large number of buildings in Male’ city.