Thursday 19 Mar 2026
Members of the Elections Commission, led by President Mohamed Zahid: Zahid says the election will not be impacted by the fire next to a ware house where EC's main election centre is located. (Photo/Elections Commission)
The Elections Commission (EC) has assured that the two elections and the referendum scheduled for next month will proceed without any disruptions, despite the fire that broke out last night in a warehouse next to the main election center.
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.
EC’s main election center is located next to the warehouse.
Speaking to the press at the scene, EC’s president Mohamed Zahid stated that all essential election documents and materials had been safely removed from the center.
Zahid confirmed that the elections will proceed as scheduled on April 4th, without any disruptions. He added that, until the Maldives National Defence Force grants permission to re-enter the election center, all administrative operations will proceed at the Social Centre.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 77 residents from 15 houses were evacuated following the fire of which 77 residents from 10 houses have been provided temporary housing.
