Fertilizer warehouse fire: Residents from 15 houses evacuated, 77 provided temporary housing

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on Thursday, said residents from 15 houses were evacuated following the fire at a warehouse near Thoiba Mosque on Wednesday night, of which 77 residents from 10 houses have been provided temporary housing.

The fire at the Prime Fertilizer warehouse, a storage site for herbicides and chemicals, was reported to Maldives National Defense Force at approximately 21:30pm on Wednesday night. The contents of the warehouse resulted in a huge blaze, which was brought under control almost two hours later, at around 23:15pm, using the foam fire lorry deployed at Velana International Airport.

NDMA, in a post early Thursday morning, said a total of 454 residents from 15 houses in the area were evacuated as of 2:30am last night. They included 69 women and 385 children, with 302 identified as expatriates.

NDMA further noted that temporary housing has been arranged for 77 individuals from 10 households. Responsibility for 280 expatriates has been assumed by their sponsors, while the Maldives Red Crescent has provided assistance to an additional 20 expatriates. Some residents have also relocated temporarily to the homes of relatives.

According to NDMA, the evacuations were carried out due to heavy smoke that engulfed the area. The authority also confirmed that seven individuals were treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and are currently in stable condition.

The warehouse was completely destroyed in the fire and is no longer usable.