Oil tanker explosion in Thilafushi injures two

An oil tanker exploded today in the industrial island of Thilafushi, causing severe injury to two workers, said the Maldives Police Service.

The police said previously that the incident occurred when some gas containers exploded. However, the police later revealed that it was in fact an oil tanker that exploded, while two workers were doing some repair work on the tanker using a gas cutter.

A police media official said that the incident occurred today at 1:30 pm. The two individuals who suffered injuries have been identified as two Maldivian men, one aged 48 and the other 56. Both men suffered severe burns and are being given treatment at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé.

Thilafushi is an island located not far away from Malé. It is being exclusively used for industrial purposes. The main storage buildings of the two leading gas suppliers, the State Trading Organization and Villa Gas, are located in the island.