Number of people moved to shelters after Hiyaa blaze rises to 85

The number of people at the Hiyaa Tower 5 moved to temporary shelters after a fire on Friday damaged the building’s plumbing has risen to 85, according to information released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The fire was reported to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service at 06:33 pm Friday.

According to the MNDF, the fire originated from an air conditioning system’s outdoor unit in the air shaft between ninth and 14th floor of the building.

The fire resulted in extensive damages to water pipes in the air shaft.

On Saturday morning, the NDMA reported that 37 people living in seven apartments at the building had been provided temporary shelter.

In an update in the afternoon, the NDMA said that the people provided temporary shelter and food has risen to 85 people from 18 apartments.

ހުކުރު ދުވަހުގެ ރޭ ހުޅުމާލޭ ހިޔާޓަވަރުގެ 5 ވަނަ ޓަވަރުގައި ހިނގި އަލިފާނުގެ ހާދިސާގައި 5 ވަނަ ޓަވަރުގެ 38 އެޕާޓްމަންޓުގެ ނަރުދަމާ ހޮޅިތަކަށް ވަނީ ގެއްލުންވެފައެވެ.

އެގޮތުން މިހާތަނަށް އެހީތެރިކަން ބޭނުންވެގެން ރިޕޯޓުކޮށްފައިވާ 18 އެޕާޓްމަންޓްގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ 85 ފަރާތަކަށް…

— NDMA Maldives (@NDMAmv) January 31, 2026

According to the NDMA, the fire damaged plumbing in 38 apartments in the building.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is working on repairing the damage.

The NDMA has asked people affected by the fire to reach out to the authority through its emergency hotline 115.

Located in Hulhumale’ Phase II, the Hiyaa towers is a sprawling public housing project that houses thousands of people. Several fire incidents have taken place at the towers over the years.