Friday 13 Mar 2026
Members of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM): HRCM probing the death of five expatriates following a fire which broke out at an accommodation block for expatriates in ADh. Dhigurah. (Photo/HRCM)
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has initiated a formal investigation into a tragic fire that occurred at an expatriate accommodation block in ADh. Dhigurah early Friday morning. The incident resulted in five fatalities, with additional victims receiving medical treatment, including two individuals transferred to Male for critical care. Preliminary reports from local authorities attribute the blaze to a gas leak. The HRCM is currently assessing the site to determine if any human rights violations contributed to the incident while emphasizing the urgent need for improved safety standards in worker housing.
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has launched a probe into the death of five expatriates following a dangerous fire which broke out at an accommodation block for expatriates in ADh. Dhigurah.
The Police received reports of the incident at around 2:00am early Friday morning.
Eight individuals who were injured in the fire were taken to the Dhigurah Health Centre for medical treatment. The Police said five of them later succumbed to their injuries.
The Police added that two people who suffered severe burns were transferred to Malé for further medical care.
In a post on X, HRCM expressed sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident. The commission also confirmed that it is closely monitoring the condition of those who were injured.
HRCM further stated that it is carrying out a comprehensive assessment to determine whether any human rights concerns are linked to the incident.
Emphasizing that the safety and security of expatriate workers’ accommodation remains a priority, the commission highlighted the need to identify and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Dhigurah Council President Ibrahim Usman told Sun that the fire was caused by a gas leak in the accommodation block. He added that the area has been closed to the public, and police officers are currently working at the scene.
It remains unclear how many expatriate workers were living in the building or which company operated the housing facility.
A special investigation team, including a medical doctor, has been deployed to Dhigurah to probe the incident.
