Two Bangladeshi workers injured in Dhigurah blaze on life support

Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). (Sun Photo/Maaniu Mohamed)

A devastating fire at an expatriate labor residence in the Alif Dhaal Atoll, specifically in Dhigurah, has resulted in five confirmed deaths and left two additional Bangladeshi nationals in critical condition. The incident, which occurred during the early hours of Friday morning, reportedly originated from a kitchen gas leak. Emergency response efforts necessitated the breaching of the building's rear exterior wall to facilitate the evacuation of trapped occupants. The two survivors are currently receiving intensive care at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé. Authorities, including the Major Crime Investigations Department and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, have launched comprehensive inquiries to assess the cause and evaluate potential systemic safety lapses.

Five expatriate workers died in the early morning blaze at a labor quarter in Dhigurah.
Two survivors are currently on ventilators at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
Initial reports suggest the fire originated from a gas leak in the kitchen area.
Police and the Human Rights Commission are investigating the incident for safety and human rights compliance.

Two people injured in a fatal fire that took place at an expatriate labor quarter in ADh. Dhigurah on early Friday are being treated on ventilators, according to the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The tragic fire resulted in the death of five expatriates, while two others sustained serious injuries from smoke inhalation, and were transferred to IGMH in Male’ City.

A spokesperson from IGMH told Sun on Saturday that the two patients transferred to the hospital are being treated on ventilators in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The fire was reported to the authorities at 01:57 am Friday, and was put out about a half-an-hour later, at 02:30 am.

The police identified the people injured as Bangladeshi nationals.

The fire at the labor quarter had reportedly resulted from a gas leak in the kitchen. The people inside were rescued by breaking in through the wall in the back of the building.

The incident is under investigation by a special investigative team from the Major Crime Investigations Department of the police.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) is also conducting an inquiry to determine whether systemic lapses in safety or human rights violations played a role in the tragedy.